In an ever-changing world of work, fighting inequalities also means extending social protection to everyone in Europe, irrespective of their contracts or employment situation.
A reliable social safety net must be available to protect everyone in Europe, including the unemployed, self-employed, atypical and crowd workers, against the hazards of their working life. Income security is essential. To protect the most vulnerable, we are convinced of the need for national minimum income schemes that ensure that no one is left in poverty and homeless.
We want clear targets to reduce rough sleeping in Europe. We will fight for decent pensions that allow the oldest to live in dignity. In case of sudden and strong increase of unemployment in a Member State, a temporary EU support should be available to national unemployment benefit systems.
Inequalities are felt very harshly when it comes to health. We believe that everyone should have a timely access to quality public healthcare. We believe that a high level of health protection and timely access to affordable and equitable preventive and curative health care of high quality are essential for the wellbeing of every society. This has been undermined by liberalisation of public services and austerity policies across the EU. We reaffirm that public health and healthcare systems are best equipped to deliver accessible services at affordable cost for all.
We will further support fair and transparent medicine pricing and access policies, improve access to vaccination for all children, and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health rights. We will put a further emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention as the most effective way to ensure physical and mental health throughout life.
Because differences should neither serve as an excuse for inequalities nor as the ground for discrimination, we will continue to promote inclusive societies that are diverse, open, respectful and free of discrimination, where rights and duties are the same for all.
We will foster intergenerational solidarity. We will work tirelessly to ensure respect for rights of people with disabilities, ensuring that they are supported and enjoy the same opportunities in education and within the labour market, that the public spaces are designed and reconstructed guaranteeing accessibility for everyone, and that their special needs when it comes to social security and healthcare provision are being met guaranteeing life in dignity.
Fighting inequality through progress that benefits all.
