Caritas urges EU candidates to prioritize solidarity

By Lisa Zengarini

Ahead of the European elections on 8-9 June, Caritas Europe has issued a Memorandum outlining five key issues that should be prioritized by the next European Parliament and Commission.

Adequate and inclusive labour markets and social protection 

The first recommendation is to guarantee “adequate and inclusive labour markets and social protection for all” in order to reach the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets on poverty reduction in Europe by 2030.

To this end, Caritas Europe calls on the European Parliament to carefully monitor the full implementation of  the 20 principles of the “European Pillar of Social Rights", proclaimed in 2017, asking in particular the European Commission to "present a proposal for a directive framework on minimum income standards within the next mandate of the European Parliament".

Access to affordable social services

The second issue addressed by the memorandum is the right of all European citizens to access high-quality and affordable social services. While reiterating that it is the duty of all European governments to guarantee this right, Caritas Europa, also highlights the crucial role played in this sector by not-for-profit organisations (NFPOs).   It therefore calls on the European Parliament to support this sector “by calling on the Commission to present a proposal for a 'golden rule' for social investment and for the creation of an enabling framework for not-for- profit service providers.”

Humane migration policies 

Caritas Europa goes on to address the hot-button issue of migration, urging the European Parliament to promote migration and asylum policies that respect  EU values, the UN Refugee Convention, human rights and dignity of all people.  

The text calls in particular for promoting “expanded safe and regular pathways to Europe” for people in need of  international protection, but also “for labour purposes through resettlement, family reunification, humanitarian visas, community sponsorships, mobility partnerships, work and residence permits.”

“A welcoming Europe should also put migrant workers' rights and the fight against exploitation at its centre and promote the social inclusion and full participation of migrants in society”, the Memorandum added.  

Humanitarian and development funding

In its fourth recommendation Caritas Europe further calls for “promoting locally-led humanitarian action and development in the EU's external action” and “significantly increasing direct humanitarian and development funding  to local grassroots civil society organisations”  Such funding “should be flexible and adaptable to allow for programming at the nexus of humanitarian, development and peace action”, the document says.

Long-term strategies for justice and sustainable development in the global South

Finally, Caritas Europe urges the EU political leaders to actively support efforts for  justice and sustainable development in the global South: “The EU must support partner countries and civil society priorities that are key to redressing power imbalances and structural obstacles to poverty and inequalities reduction, such as fair food systems, loss and damage and climate financing.”

According ro Caritas the European Parliament must be “the leading voice pushing for EU institutions to avoid inward-looking strategies and short-termism, and rather have the political will to promote fair and coherent policies and practices, especially in the sectors of trade, agriculture and migration.”