The European Union and its Member States are strongly committed to tackling poverty and social exclusion. The Commission's 2005-2010 Social Agenda put forward 2010 as the European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion, to reaffirm and strengthen the initial EU political commitment, at the start of the Lisbon strategy, to make “a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty”.
The European Parliament's and the Council's endorsement of the 2010 European Year was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on L 298, on 7.11.20081.

Objectives of the Year 2010:
1. Recognition: recognise the fundamental right of persons experiencing poverty and social exclusion to live in dignity and to take an active part in society;
2. Shared responsibility and participation: promote public support for social inclusion policies, emphasising collective and individual responsibility in combating poverty and social exclusion, and fostering commitment by all public and private actors;
3. Cohesion: promote a more cohesive society, where no one doubts that society as a whole benefits from the eradication of poverty;
4. Commitment and practical action: renew the pledge of the EU and its Member States to combat poverty and social exclusion, and involve all levels of authority in the pursuit of that aim.

Budget
The 2010 European Year has been given a budget of at least 26 million euros, of which 17 million euros provided by European Union. This may be supplemented by funding from private sources.

More: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=637