The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations participated in the Citizens’ Agora on Crisis and Forms of Poverty held at the European Parliament on 27 and 28 January 2011. The Citizens’ Agora represents a link between the European Parliament and European Civil Society. MCWO representatives were Ms Renee Laiviera, Chairperson and Ms Lydia Sciberras, member. NGOs working in the social field, particularly with minority groups, hailed from all over the European Union.
Three workshops were organised. Workshop A discussed economic and financial crises and new forms of poverty. Workshop B dealt with the Impact of economic and financial crises on migration and integration processes. Workshop C covered the access for people in a precarious situation to a decent and sustainable way of life – challenges for a European model of society.
Throughout the Agora, the NGOs called on the European Parliament to ensure that great importance is given to the social impact of the economic policies that are presently being advocated to the EU Member States in order to bring the financial situation under control. The citizen’s way of life should also be given its due importance especially in the rising levels of poverty.
