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BRIEFING #90 European Conference: The unsustainable burden of inequalities - How the implementation of the EPSR can lead to the achievement of the Agenda 2030 Published in December 2018 © SOLIDAR European Conference Executive Summary social well-being. She highlighted that more une- qual societies tend to be unhealthier, unhappier, Marking the first anniversary of the proclamation more depressed and simply more unjust. Moreo- of the European Pillar of Social Rights, SOLIDAR ver, income inequality has negative repercus- successfully hosted a conference in the Euro- sions for feelings of self-worth and strengthens pean Parliament on 22 November 2018, attended the grip of class and status within a society. by more than 120 participants. The aim of this event was to raise the bar in the debate over the During the panel interventions, it was commonly implementation of the Pillar by highlighting the agreed that the diverse challenges of inequality necessary connection with objectives of sustai- require multiple strategies to tackle them. This nability set out in the Sustainable Development is crucial in times of rising levels of na-tionalism Goals. The conference title “The unsustainable and neoliberalisation that penetrates the very burden of inequalities - How the implementation foundation of our welfare states. In that regard, of the EPSR can lead to the achievement of the and to combat social, economic and health Agenda 2030” attracted high-level speakers and inequalities, the European Pillar of Social Rights was greatly supplemented by an inspiring key and the SDGs are considered as strategic tools note speech by Kate Pickett, Professor of Social in providing a comprehensive set of enforceable Epidemiology and co-author with Richard Wilkin- rights for European citizens, which are decisive in son of several books on the interconnectedness achieving upward social convergence. of inequality, well-being and health. In 2013, Pickett and Wilkinson have been also awarded by European Institutions and Member States must SOLIDAR with the Silver Rose. prioritise commitments agreed in the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Sustainable De- Kate Pickett’s, co-author of the most recent book velopment Goals. Additionally, they must identify “Inner Level: How More Equal Societies Reduce certain synergies as a way to achieve more equal, Stress, Restore Sanity and Improve Everyone’s healthier, more sustainable and inclusive socie- Wellbeing”, presented at this conference and ties. Policy making at all levels must be coherent impressively outlined the far-reaching effects of and positively reinforcing one another to ultima- inequality on our societies in its multiple dimen- tely accomplish a true paradigm shift on issues sions. Furthermore, SOLIDAR was pleased of social equality, well-being and sustainability. and honoured to welcome Udo Bullmann, MEP Concluding with Kate Pickett’s research results, and President of the S&D Group; Joost Korte, it is not the case that inequality is a direct result Director-General of DG EMPL; Nicolas Schmit, of human nature. Humans adapt to the societies Minister for Labour, Employment, Social and So- they live in and, therefore, equality helps us to lidarity Economy of Luxembourg; Esther Lynch, make cooperation, empathy and solidarity in Confederal Secretary at ETUC; as well as Kélig societies possible. Puyet, Director at Social Platform to speak about the severe and unacceptable consequences of inequality in Europe and explore ways to tackle its ramifications. The discussion at this SOLIDAR conference un- derlined that despite unemployment rates slightly falling over the last couple of years, figures of inequality are not improving but remain stagnant and are in some cases even exacerbating. This has wide-ranging implications. As Dr. Kate Pickett showcased, inequality must fundamentally be connected with issues of health, well-being and Briefing 90 | 2 European Conference Unacceptable gaps - data on inequality Programme of the European Conference The current and longstanding lack of social Welcome by Conny Reuter, SOLIDAR Secretary investments is becoming as unsustainable for General European social cohesion as the current pro- duction model is for our planet. Today, income Keynote speech by Kate Pickett, Professor of inequalities are higher in the EU than in the US. Social Epidemiology at the University of York, As the Social Scoreboard of 2018 highlights, the richest 20% of the EU populations earn around 5 co-founder of the Equality Trust and co-author times more than the poorest 20%. This number is of “The Inner Level: How More Equal Societies even worse for some EU Member States such as Reduce Stress, Restore Sanity and Improve Eve- Bulgaria, Romania or Lithuania peaking at more ryone’s Wellbeing (2018)” than 7.0. This means that in these countries the richest 20% earn 7 times more than the poorest Discussion Panel 20% in their respective countries. Udo Bullmann, MEP, S&D Group President In terms of wealth inequality the pictures looks Joost Korte, DG EMPL, European Commission, even more grim, wealth is more unequally distri- buted than income. The top 5% wealthiest Euro- Director-General peans owning almost 40% of total private wealth. Esther Lynch, Confederal Secretary, ETUC In the European Union, Latvia has the highest Kélig Puyet, Director, Social Platform concentration of wealth followed by Germany, Nicolas Schmit, Minister for Labour, Employment, Cyprus and Austria. Social and Solidarity Economy of Luxembourg The phenomenon of in-work poverty affects The debate almost 10% of European workers. This means that despite being in employment, people live Commencing our conference, it was the role of below the poverty line threshold. Although unem- ployment decreased over the last couple of years, Conny Reuter, SOLIDAR Secretary General, to in-work poverty has experienced an increase set the scene and chair the discussion ahead. of 15% since 2010. Also, gender inequality Among the various challenges Europe currently remains a persistent problem for achieving true faces, he pointed out that social cohesion and equality in Europe. Women in full employment environmental challenges are among the two earn, on average, around 20% less than men. most paramount ones which we urgently need There has been no significant improvement over to confront and solve. He stressed that staying the last years and in certain countries such has committed to the principles of the Sustainable Latvia or Estonia, the situation is even worsening. Development Goals will lead to hard but neces- sary choices to be made but they are a crucial This data makes the case for immediate, sound and robust social investment in Eu- step towards fighting inequalities in Europe and rope. In this framework, sustainability is the key beyond. Aligned with the European Pillar of Social word for any forward looking agenda aiming at Rights, political action oriented towards these enabling the conditions for a stronger, united and two strategies will enable progress for a social collective Europe at the service of a fairer, clea- Europe. He also highlighted that SDGs should be ner, more just world. a key focus of the next Commission strategy and work plan. Briefing 90 | 3 European Conference inequality also affects matters of social cohesion and the makeup of our societies. As her research “Critical thinking is fundamental. Progress finds, income inequality undermines feelings of has been made and we need to address self-worth and strengthens the grip of class and what are the challenges of inequalities in status. Therefore, a society that demonstrate our societies for the next period.” – Conny high level of inequality penetrates patterns of Reuter dominance and submission with negative effects of levels on participation, voluntary work and solidarity. The keynote speech of the SOLIDAR European Conference was delivered by the British author The question remains what can be done to tackle and Professor of Social Epidemiology Kate inequality and make a transition to sustainable Pickett presenting her latest co-authored book well-being? Dr Pickett suggested solutions such “The Inner Level: How More Equal Societies Re- as the fight against tax avoidance and tax ha- duce Stress, Restore Sanity and Im-prove Eve- vens or more progressive taxation schemes on ryone’s Wellbeing (2018)”. In her insightful pre- one hand, as well as stronger trade unions and sentation, Dr Pickett demonstrated how income increased company democracy on the other. In inequality is linked to a wide range of topics that conclusion, what made her speech so compel- go beyond economic issues. Income inequality, ling was the undeniable argument that if we want on top of a series of other severe problems, af- more social mobility, a more trusting and health fects our health, well-being and social cohesion. society, we must radically address inequality. The effects of inequality on health and well-being are large and there are big differences to be As the first panellist and commentator on Pickett’s found between societies. As Dr Pickett highlights, presentation, we are thankful to Udo Bullmann it is not the case that only the poorest fractions for attending our European Conference on the of society are affected by the consequences of unsustainable burden of inequalities. Bullmann is inequality but the entire population suffers as a Member of European Parliament and President of whole. Therefore, all parts of society would bene- the Socialists and Demo-crats (S&D) Group. fit if we were to strive for more equal societies. “The question of inequalities has to be “We’re all impacted by inequalities, so embedded in a broader discourse, it’s not understanding the pathways of incoming purely based on an economic system. For inequalities has been at the core of our instance, we cannot discuss about eco- work.” – Kate Pickett nomy without talking about environmental issues.” – Udo Bullmann Inequality affects the rates of life expectancy, homicides, imprisonment rates, mental illness, Bullmann started off with a more general ap- social mobility, among other indicators.

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