Toespraak staatssecretaris Klijnsma op European Social Network (ESN) conferentie

Toespraak | 20-06-2016

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is great to see so many of you here today at the 24th annual European Social Services Conference.

Today’s conference has an interesting title.

The future is local.

Let me give you my take on the future.

I want a future in which everyone participates. Also the people who are facing difficulties.

Of course, it is important to talk on a national and international level about our future. By doing so, we have made important strides in shaping that future. Yet we should not underestimate the power of the local level. That’s where the real action takes place. That’s where we can make a real difference.

 

Because only by strengthening the base of our society can we tackle the problems and issues that are undermining the development of an inclusive world.

And only by strengthening the base of our society can we advance our cooperation and improve the empowerment, resilience and wellbeing of Europeans.

Hence I subscribe wholeheartedly to the title of this conference.

Yes, the future is local.

This is most certainly the case for the main theme of my talk today and one of the priorities during the Dutch Presidency:

Fighting poverty.

Perhaps for more than any other issue, the principle goes that a ‘local future’ is a better one. A future in which we can face poverty together in a more effective and sustainable way. A wealthier future for all.

 

Let me explain why. But first, let me take you back to 2010. The year when we committed ourselves to the EU2020 strategy. This strategy included an ambitious target to reduce the number of people in poverty by 20 million.

To me, it was a very important step towards a better future. Finally, there was a commitment to diminish in a substantial way the amount of people living in poverty.

However, history took a different turn.

Since 2010, the number of people living in poverty or social exclusion has increased by more than 4 million. In total, more than 120 million people in Europe are currently at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

These numbers are mind-boggling. And they are unacceptable in a modern society. Because people who live in poverty are not just deprived of money. They are also deprived of opportunity. While they have limited possibilities to participate in society, their future is on hold.

 

The worst thing is that there are many children amongst the victims. More than one in four children in the EU is at risk of poverty or social exclusion. I find this incredibly shocking! Every child deserves the opportunity to have fun with friends, play sports and go to school.

In order to improve their future, we must recommit ourselves to the EU2020 strategy.

Where there’s a will, there is a way. Yet more important is that we find that way.

Or phrased differently, in order to improve the future of Europeans, we need to look at our own.   

We need to address the question of how our future should look.

The future of the organizations and field workers who are fighting poverty.

Your future. 

Because you are the ones who can make a difference. You are the ones who understand the local problems. And you are the ones who can reach people individually, much better than we can at Member State or EU level.

A future of less poverty is a future in which we enable you to do your job best. At a local level.  

In the Netherlands, we have made important strides in making the local level more future proof, for example by decentralising tasks to municipalities, because they are closer to the people.

Working together is essential, as poverty is a complex problem. It can involve a wide spectrum of origins and effects, ranging from a lack of income to social exclusion.

Actually, all the themes that are discussed during the workshops today are related to poverty in some way or another.

It is important to take into consideration the perspective of the person or family involved. Solutions need to be made in 'co-creation' with them. This works much better than a top-down approach.

It also requires recognition of the role of a whole range of life domains such as employment, health and long-term care, education and housing.

And it requires cooperation with all the parties involved, both in the public and private domains.

While field work is very important, the government has an important role as well, at municipal, national and EU level. Here too, we need to apply an integrated approach. We need to ensure that we align our policies and services.

It’s the only way we can reach all the people concerned. In all their life domains. And it’s the only way we can properly assist fieldworkers and organizations working at a local level.  

In line with the principle of subsidiarity, poverty reduction should remain a competence of the Member States. But I also believe that Member States should help each other to implement effective policies to reduce poverty. We need to share our local experiences, expertise and good practices.

We have almost reached the end of the Dutch Presidency. And I would like to take the stock.

To me, there are several accomplishments:

First, I am very pleased that we have put poverty on the political agenda and in the minds of politicians. Last week, all Member States adopted the Council Conclusions on an integrated approach to combating poverty.

By adopting these Council Conclusions, Member States have shown their commitment to a better future for Europeans. A future in which poverty is diminished.

It shows me once more that where there is a will, there is a way.

Yet I am even more pleased with the addendum attached to these Council Conclusions: a booklet containing best practices from all over Europe of integrated approaches to combating poverty.

This booklet can serve as a map leading us on the way to an inclusive future in which everyone has the possibility to participate and grow.

A local one, where the issue of poverty is combated right at the heart of the problem. You have all received a copy of the best practices booklet. I hope it will give you the guidance you need.

And I encourage you to continue the best practice of sharing best practices. Because I am sure that we have enough best practices to fill an entire library with booklets like these!

This conference is an excellent opportunity to communicate best practices, and I am glad to see that there are so many interesting workshops aimed at sharing knowledge.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is something that makes me even happier. Or actually I should say some people. And they are standing right in front of me.

You!

You are the ones who are doing it. Fighting poverty. Making a difference in the lives of many people.

I wish you a great conference. And a great future.