Education 'key' to fighting poverty, increasing jobs

Malta managed to register the third lowest rate of unemployment within the European Union because of the progressive course it embarked on, according to Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

Addressing a gathering of the International Union of Socialists Youth (IUSY) at the Ghajn Tuffieha campin site, the Prime Minister said the government embarked upon a progressive course that made things happen without betraying its origins by keeping in touch with grassroots.

"This was our pledge and 55% of the Maltese decided it was time to turn a new page. The Labour government started delivering," Muscat said, explaining how the Maltese had faced energy poverty.

"We became the third country with lowest rate of unemployment and the first country to have a fully-fledged youth guarantee in place. We developed legislation placing civil unions at par with marriage."

Muscat added that the best policy for jobs and the fight against poverty is education. 

'Europe must wake up'
The European Union's priorities are to relaunch its economy, fight poverty and become a global player, according to Gianni Pittella, President of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

He said the root cause of of poverty was inequality.

"Inequality is growing in our societies and it has never been so high. Inequality between social classes, regions and the division between north and south," he said.

Pittella said that economic growth was required to to fight poverty and inequality. "Austerity measures were a disaster and only served to create unemployment and social instability, undermining democratic foundations in countries where democracy first developed.

He reiterated that generating economic growth leads to jobs and stops austerity.

Pittella insisted that the future of Europe laid in the Mediterranean Sea and the European Union could no longer remain silent on the wars in Syria, Gaza and Ukraine.

"The EU must wake up... it cannot go on holiday when there is war in Libya, Syria, Gaza Strip and in Ukraine. It is necessary that the EU wakes up in this dramatic scenario," he said.

As president of the S&D group in the European Parliament, Pittella will be in Gaza and Jerusalem next week: "Europe is nothing if it doesn't intervene."

Pittella also had words of praise for Muscat whom he described as "one of the most important personalities of Socialists around the world".