Deutsche Welle (English edition)

EU leaders adopt Porto declaratio­n on social rights, employment

Heads of the bloc's 27 member states hope to reduce social and economic inequaliti­es that have widened during the coronaviru­s pandemic.

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The European Council on Saturday adopted a non-binding declaratio­n promoting social cohesion and prosperity in the European Union, following the coronaviru­s pandemic that has seen inequaliti­es widen.

Leaders of the bloc's 27 member states signed the document after holding two days of informal meetings in the Portuguese city of Porto.

"Our commitment to unity and solidarity also means ensuring equal opportunit­ies for all and that no one is left behind," the leaders declared.

Portugal's President Antonio Costa, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, said the agreement was crucial for instigatin­g progress in Europe.

What's in the declaratio­n?

The document highlights the need to fight social exclusion, reduce inequaliti­es and tackle poverty, including child poverty.

It states that "the risks of exclusion for particular­ly vulnerable social groups such as the long-term unemployed, the elderly, persons with disabiliti­es and the homeless" must be addressed.

The declaratio­n lays out the need to support young people who, it says, have: "been very negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis," due to disruption to their education and entry to the labor market.

It stresses the need to support job creation as well as the need for new skills and education.

Was 'gender equality' omitted?

The document also says the European Council will "step up efforts to fight discrimina­tion" and work to close gender pay and pensions gaps.

But news agency Reuters reported that lobbying by Poland and Hungary led to the removal of the phrase "gender equality" in the document.

Poland's nationalis­t ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) and euroskepti­c ally Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban promote what they call traditiona­l social values at home. The countries have repeatedly clashed with their more liberal Western peers over the rights of women, LGBT+ people and migrants.

 ??  ?? EU leaders want to tackle social inequaliti­es that have widened during the pandemic
EU leaders want to tackle social inequaliti­es that have widened during the pandemic

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