2010: A Seminal Year in Combating Poverty in Europe?

The European Commission has designated 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, a campaign which aims to reaffirm the EU's commitment to making a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty in Europe by 2010.

"The fight against poverty and social exclusion is one of the EU's central objectives and our shared approach has been an important tool to guide and support action in the Member States," said Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimír Špidla. "The European Year will take this even further, by raising public awareness of the way poverty continues to blight the daily lives of so many Europeans."

The campaign is intended to work towards the European Union's goals of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and coincides with the conclusion of the EU's ten year strategy for growth and jobs.

The European process for social protection and social inclusion supports Member States in their drive for greater social cohesion in Europe through an open method of coordination. And over the period 2007-2013 some € 75 billion will be distributed from the European Social Fund to Member States and regions.