Social inequality and cohesion between and within EU Member States remains a big problem. This is why we must strengthen our efforts to combat poverty and social exclusion. EU social policy must stand on an equal footing with EU economic policy. The internal market cannot function without social inclusion.

Well-performing basic security systems geared towards people's needs and not dependant on any prior contributions are essential for the functioning of the welfare state in all EU Member States. We need social services that provide a secure livelihood, are reliable, affordable and universally accessible. The benchmark for securing a livelihood must be social participation in social, cultural and economic terms.

The European Union funds the implementation of its political goals through a variety of funding programmes. Important EU funding areas such as regional cohesion, education, as well as the fight against poverty are especially relevant to our Caritas work. Together with our colleagues in Germany and vis-à-vis decision-makers, we are striving to make EU funding programmes such as the European Social Fund (ESF), the Asylum-Migration-Integration-Fund (AMIF), or Erasmus+ most helpful for its target groups, and as accessible and as easy to implement as possible for Caritas organisations.

Caritas Germany demands a social, digital, inclusive and sustainable Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – the EU’s seven-year budget. All funding programmes must be inclusive and need to be radically simplified. Our experiences in Germany clearly demonstrate, that the current rules and conditions are no longer tenable for not-for-profit organisations. Furthermore, a close partnership between the fund’s managing authorities and civil society organisations is a vital condition to implement European funding to the benefit of its target groups. The German Caritas and its EU-Office actively involved throughout the entire EU budget periods, from the legislative proposals and negotiations to their implementation.

In Germany, most social services is provided nationwide by welfare organisations like Caritas. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, clients have the right to choose which social provider they prefer. This system is unique in Europe and requires special attention and support at EU level.

The EU must create favourable conditions for the non-profit social economy, as it is an essential building block for social cohesion and coexistence in the Member States. Social services must be able to provide their support without bureaucratic hurdles and with due regard for their importance to society.

EU state aid law must be designed in such a way that the provision of services of general interest by non-profit providers of services of general economic interest can be secured and adapted to people's needs. Bureaucratic obstacles in state aid law, especially for services of general economic interest, must be removed.

The digital transformation creates many opportunities to improves countless people’s life, to optimise processes and to promote greater sustainability. At the same time, research shows robust links between social, economic, cultural (“offline”) disadvantages and digital (“online”) inequality. Consequently, the German Caritas Association promotes inclusion and participation in a traditional sense, as well as online.

The EU plays an important, global role in regulating the digital transformation. Therefore, the EU Office advocates in Brussels to expand digital infrastructure, to offer everybody targeted opportunities to learn digital skills, to foster digital inclusion and participation, and to use data, algorithms as well as artificial intelligence for the public good. Last but not least, in order to continuously provide social cohesion in digitalised societies, welfare organisations like Caritas, being providers of social infrastructure, need to be digitalised, enabled and protected from cyber threats.

International human rights law and constitutional law mandates us to protect people who are persecuted and fear for their lives. European refugee protection must be based on common values such as the principle of solidarity and the protection of human rights. The root causes that cause people to flee in the first place must be combated through joint efforts. EU Member States have a shared responsibility for those in need of protection. Humanitarian disasters, especially at the EU's external borders and in the Mediterranean, must be prevented. Access to individual refugee protection in the EU must be guaranteed.

To relieve the burden on the European countries of first reception, all EU Member States need to accept asylum-seekers. Appropriate reception conditions and comparable procedural and quality standards in the Member States are an essential prerequisite for a functioning Common European Asylum System. To spare those in need of protection from dangerous escape routes, legal and safe access options must be expanded. The social participation and integration of new immigrants must be promoted from the outset.

Children who are forced to leave their country of origin and seek protection in EU Member States – regardless of whether they flee with their parents or unaccompanied – are particularly vulnerable. The welfare of the child must be the top priority when it comes to accommodation and care for this group.

We regularly welcome visitor groups who are interested in learning more about our activities as a advocacy office of Caritas Germany and about political legislative processes on EU level. As a special service for visitor groups from our Caritas family, we assist in scheduling meetings and organizing political discussions in Brussels. For further information, please reach out to euvertretung@caritas.de

For your event in Brussels, you are welcome to rent our conference room in the heart of the European Quarter. Please send your enquiry to euvertretung@caritas.de

Caritas Germany’s Brussels office has four furnished guest rooms that are rented out on a monthly basis. If you are interested in renting a guest room, please contact us at euvertretung@caritas.de