Ministers meeting in Brussels on 7 March 2011 for the celebration of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, issued their conclusions on the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: A European framework for social and territorial cohesion. In their conclusions, ministers stressed the fact that preventing and alleviating poverty and social exclusion will require a coordinated action of all relevant efforts and instruments at EU and national levels.

In its conclusions, the Council reminds that, according to latest available figures, at least 1 out of 6 people are at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the European Union, a phenomenon that has become even more acute in time of crisis. These figures provide even more relevance to one of the key priorities of the Europe 2020 Strategy which aims to promote social inclusion through the reduction of poverty by lifting at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and social exclusion by 2020.

Regarding the implementation and success of the Europe 2020 strategy, the Council stressed that this will depend on the simultaneous realisation of all its headline targets and that integrated and mutually reinforcing policies are therefore required. Ministers consider that social and territorial cohesion can only be achieved if growth and jobs also reach the most vulnerable.

In their debate, ministers within the EPSCO Council welcomed the Communication on the Commission flagship initiative "The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: A European framework for social and territorial cohesion" put forward in December 2010. This Platform proposed an integrated and innovative approach aiming at a joint commitment among the Member States at national, regional and local levels, as well as among EU Institutions and the key stakeholders such as social partners and NGOs, in their efforts to fight poverty and social exclusion.

The Council considers that in implementing the key areas for action of the Platform, it would crucial to pay attention to deliver action to fight poverty and exclusion across the policy spectrum without prejudice to Member States’ competence, as well as to deliver EU funding on the social inclusion and social and territorial cohesion without prejudice to future negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework.

In their Conclusions, ministers invite Member states to rapidly finalise their national targets on social inclusion and poverty reduction taking account of their relative starting positions and national circumstances, as well as to proceed with developing and implementing their national policies to reduce poverty and social exclusion in accordance with their particular situations and challenges. These include: actions across the whole policy spectrum, more effective use of Structural Funds to support social inclusion, use and promotion of evidence-based approaches and social innovation, the strengthening of partnership at all levels, encouragement of the social economy and the fullest application of active inclusion principles

The Council also invites the Commission to continue with the elaboration and delivery of the approaches and activities announced under the Platform with emphasis on areas which are likely to have the most decisive impact on poverty reduction. It also recommends the joint action between the Commission and the Social Protection Committee to develop further and monitor EU initiatives in the whole spectrum of social protection and social inclusion policies.