Zagreb (IKA) – The International Conference on Poverty and Solidarity: Croatia in an Expanded Europe, as the conclusion of the project Monitoring Poverty in Croatia, was held in Zagreb on October 14 and 15. The organizers were the Center for the Promotion of the Social Doctrine of the Church of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Croatian Caritas, the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, the Catholic School of Theology of the University of Zagreb and the Social Policy Review. The conference assembled approximately a hundred experts, including sociologists, psychologists, theologians, social workers, philosophers, demographers and persons with practical experience. A series of lectures was held on topics of empirical investigations and theoretical deliberations.

Inspired by the lectures, discussions and the current situation in Croatia, the conference participants issued a public statement in which they noted that poverty jeopardizes human dignity and participation in the life of the social community. The creation of “an atmosphere of solidarity and confidence in the society” is the basis for solving the problem of poverty and social exclusion in Croatia, and a prerequisite for achieving social standards and the social integration of Croatia into the European Union.

Empirical investigations show a high level of personal solidarity in Croatia and a low level of social solidarity. The high level of personal solidarity is a good foundation for the development of the social solidarity that is a prerequisite for solving the accumulated unresolved social questions, according to the statement.

It is necessary to develop an “atmosphere of confidence” on all levels of the society in the institutions and among the citizens in order for the democratic system to function effectively. Religious persons, particularly members of the Catholic Church, are urged to devote more attention to the development of “social spirituality.”

In Croatia, the civil society is poorly developed in the social area. Therefore, it is necessary to devote greater attention in the work of the civil sector to actual problems, such as unemployment, living on credit and solidarity with risk groups. Research shows that education, especially self-education, is not valued in the society. The promotion of education and the public support of the educational system are among the main prerequisites for reducing poverty and promoting overall social development.

Croatia’s European future is inseparably linked with social cohesion and the continued development of the social state. The necessary reforms of the social state must not endanger the basic social standard and domestic experts should not be ignored in this reform, according to the statement.