NICVA calls for EU help for redundant workers

Press release for immediate use: 27 October 2005

Northern Ireland has a huge stake in the debates going on among European Union leaders today at Hampton Court in England.

The role of the EU in promoting social protection and fighting poverty is crucial in a region like ours with high levels of poverty and inequality and declining industries like textiles.

NICVA urges the leaders to develop plans to boost the help given to redundant workers and long-term unemployed people, including those who are economically inactive but not counted officially as 'out of work'.

Northern Ireland also has high fuel prices and the proposal from the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, for a single European power grid could help reduce the cost of electricity.

"Today's meeting will not take firm decisions but it can set priorities leading up to a possible agreement on the EU Budget later this year. We want these priorities to include an attack on poverty and more help for people who cannot get into the skilled, high-paid jobs that the EU hopes to create in the future," said NICVA's director of policy, Frances McCandless.

"We want Northern Ireland people to join the debate and shape the future instead of passively accepting what is decided. To this end, NICVA is running a conference on the future of the EU on 15 November."

Notes

For more information contact Paul Mc Gill, 028 9087 7777; 0772 1746 805 (m).

Europe at the Crossroads

The conference on Tuesday 15 November will be at NICVA. People can register by contacting at Cathy Breslin or 028 9087 7777.