Caritas Europa wants to conclude the European Year 2010 for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion by discussing with EU high-ranking representatives how to bring forward the achievements of 2010 and ensure that the fight against poverty will continue despite the ongoing economic crisis and the series of austerity measures implemented by Member States.

In the framework of the closing conference of its campaign Zero Poverty and in collaboration with the European Policy Center (EPC), Caritas Europa is holding today a panel discussion on the theme “How Can We Best Continue the Fight against Poverty Given the Current Reform of Economic Governance and in Times of Austerity?”

The event is gently hosted by the EPC at the Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155 in Brussels and is scheduled from 15:30 to 17:00.

The panel will be composed of:

-          Mr. Philippe Courard, Belgian Secretary of State for Social Integration and Fight against Poverty on behalf of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union.

-          Mr. Arnoldas Abramavicius, Chair of the Economic and Social Affairs Commission of the Committee of the Regions

-          Ms. Antonia Carparelli, Head of Unit at the European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

-          Mr. Jorge Nuño Mayer, Secretary General of Caritas Europa

The participants will discuss the achievements made during 2010, the European Year of Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion; the challenges looming ahead and the means the EU will deploy to address them.

The event will be moderated by Dr. Fabian Zuleeg, Senior Economist and Policy Analyst at the EPC, who will also draw the conclusions from the panel.

For more information, contact

Alain Rodriguez
Web Editor
+32 (0)2 235 26 54
arodriguez@caritas-europa.org