European Commission slammed for being 'slow'

The European Commission has been slammed for being too slow in a draft report by Labour MEP candidate Claudette Abela Baldacchino.

The report, on equal opportunities, was drawn up for the economic and social policy commission of the Committee of the Regions.

Presenting her report, Ms Abela Baldacchino said that social cohesion in Europe could only be sustained if it developed policies and measures that were designed to develop people’s competencies and ensure that those at risk of social exclusion were fully integrated in community life.

The report slammed the EU commission for being too slow to re-act to changing and emerging needs in European societies and referred to the issues of diversity, changing values, demographic change and the impact on workers by the globalised economy.

Ms Abela Baldacchino said that the achievements of a social Europe were at stake unless governments reacted fast and innovatively enough to shift the current impasse of helplessness into one that recognised people’s abilities and drive and created an enabling environment both socially and economically for people to succeed.

This could only be achieved by striving to eliminate inequalities and injustices that relegated certain individuals and groups to second class citizenship and placing trust and investing in people to give their best.

Ms Abela Baldacchino described her report as a paradigm shift from maintaining the status quo to one that empoweed people to succeed. She called on the commission to take urgent action in favour of the millions facing insecurity.