A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN OUR HANDS - To Parent Directory

Social inclusionmedia do little to clarify the situation. The result is all too frequenthostility and suspicion sometimes erupting into violence. TheEuropean Union Agency for Fundamental Rights found that over9 million people in the EU (that’s 3% of all inhabitants) experiencedracist attacks in 2004. In order for immigrants to contribute to thesocial welfare of the society in which they have made their home,they need to become tax payers. For this to happen legitimate jobsand legal employment must be offered and racism and prejudicerooted out at ground level.Europe’s population is set to decline over the next 50 years. Italy islikely to lose 28% of its population by 2050. To maintain its workingage group, Italy would need to start opening its doors to morethan 350,000 immigrants per year or keep its citizens working untilthey are 75. Other EU countries are in the same boat.What the EU’s doingThroughout Europe, our hopes for the future seem essentially thesame: a safe, dynamic, democratic society which provides for thevulnerable and helps the population get into work. But although weare all aiming for the same things, there is still too much prejudiceand suspicion that prevents us from working together to makethese hopes a reality throughout the EU. To break down the barriersto progress and security we need to think again about howwe view people around us. To make change concrete, the EU hasoutlined its goals to:• Reduce the number of people at risk of poverty and socialexclusion by 2010, with a particular emphasis on childpoverty• Ensure territorial and social cohesion• Support EU countries as they modernise social protectionin the face of challenges such as falling birth rates andlonger lifespans056