Last week I had the opportunity to participate in the breakfast-colloquium 'Forum Europe-Tribuna Catalunya' presented by the Minister of Economy and Knowledge, Andreu Mas-Colell, the president of the Bureau of Entities of the Third Social Sector of Catalonia, Àngels Guiteras. It was entitled The third sector facing the future: social cohesion, economic development and democratic renewal and raised a series of measures for the so-called social emergency situation in Catalonia.
Guiteras stated that the third sector is the backbone of social policy in Catalonia and needs to be recognized by the administration and society. The main concern of the Bureau is the fight against poverty and social exclusion. Urgent measures must be taken to stop evictions, stop the loss of jobs, stop the financial suffocation of social entities by offering collective financial instruments and fight against tax fraud that would prevent cuts in social spending. It is time for a great social and economic agreement in Catalonia by all political parties and we must bet on dialogue, priorities and consensus to address poverty.
Jordi Picas, Director of the Autonomous Area of Suara Cooperativa
