Combating poverty in Europe

 
The Minister signed the NGO shared messages for 2010, delivered by Fintan Farrell, Director of the European Anti-Poverty Network EU. More photos on Flickr

 

– The European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010 is an excellent opportunity to share experience and knowledge on strategies and measures to combat poverty and promote inclusion across Europe, says the Minister of Labour, Hanne Bjurstrøm.

On 2 September Mrs. Bjurstrøm opened the EAPN Norway’s International Conference on The European Year 2010. In her opening speech, she said that The European Year 2010 shows in a very concrete way that the EU is much more than just an internal market for economic integration.

The minister also talked about the situation of many poor people in Norway:
– Even though most people in Norway live very good lives, and even though at the international level we are unbelievably wealthy, there are people in this country who have not taken part in the increase in prosperity. Indeed, not having what other people have, and not being included in the community, may be even worse in a rich country than in other, less wealthy, societies, the Minister said.

• Read Hanne Bjurstrøm's speech 
• See the conference on web tv (part 1) 
• See the conference on web tv (part 2)