Thank you Mr. Chairperson, In congratulating you and the bureau on your election, let me assure you of my delegation’s full support for your work. Italy endorses the statement made by Spain on behalf of the European Union, and wishes to add some remarks in a national capacity, focused on our own policy developments and experience. Mr. Chairperson, As the Secretary-General’s report on “promoting social integration” emphasizes, the recent economic crisis represents an almost unprecedented challenge to world’s social development. An economic recovery is underway, rewarding the efforts of the world’s governments to stimulate growth and safeguard the financial system. Nevertheless, the pressures created by the crisis will continue to threaten businesses and workers, both in developed and developing countries, and jeopardize the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups. The economic crisis did have an impact in Italy: at the end of 2008, 11.3% of Italian households (more than 8 million individuals) were classified by the National Statistical Office as “relatively poor”. 67.5% of poor households continue to be concentrated in Southern regions, where only 32.5% of the Italian population resides. In particular, there was a deterioration in the situation of intermediate age groups (35-44 years old), and of persons with limited schooling. There was also a high concentration of poverty among the elderly (couples or singles), single persons, single parents and couples with one breadwinner only. Moreover the highest incidence (49.6%) is among families in which there are neither job holders nor retirees. This data confirms the need for a “work first” approach to the financial crisis: hence the Government’s measures to protect jobs and to strengthen social protection. Increasing employment levels will strengthen social growth by fostering sustainable recovery and social policies to close the inequality gap in an “active society” perspective. We are therefore pleased to see that the draft resolution that will be the main outcome of this session prioritizes once again the achievement of full productive employment and decent work for all. In this framework, we will continue to actively support UN initiatives to promote “social protection floors” and to assist countries in the development of tools and policies needed to widen social security networks. In the past twelve months, the Italian Government reinforced social services provided by local authorities, broadening access to unemployment compensation and job protection and providing income support to less favoured social groups and households in order to enhance their purchasing power. In the latter case, preferred groups were those identified either at risk of poverty or below the poverty line. Following up on its announcement at the 47th Session of the Commission for Social Development, Italy has completed its participatory consultation on the Green Paper on the Future of Welfare, resulting in a White Paper drafted by our Ministry of Labour and Social Policies. On the basis of an analysis of the Italian welfare system’s weaknesses and potential, the Paper strongly recommends that our vision of public welfare be reorganized around the core values of person, family and community, as envisaged by the Italian Constitution. This new model combines social benefits and services with active individual participation in the community’s civic and economic life and responsible life styles. The model will be governed by a vertical approach, as pertains to the decentralization of welfare policies to Local Authorities, and by a horizontal subsidiarity, which calls for the involvement of civil society and social partners’ representatives and organizations in the planning and provision of services. Mr. Chairperson, At both the national and international levels, Italy remains committed to tackling the challenges of human development and social inclusion. We have repeatedly confirmed this commitment, in particular with the G8 Labour Ministers’ Meeting “People First,” held in Rome in March 2009, and at the July 2009 L’Aquila G8 Summit. The “People First” meeting agreed that the human dimensions of the crisis should be promoted on the basis of common principles: namely, that macroeconomic policies should always be combined with social and employment policies, with special attention to the social sustainability of the measures taken. The final declaration of the L’Aquila Summit stated the participants’ commitment to work together on policies to improve social safety nets, including healthcare, education, and investments into infrastructure and innovation, thereby contributing to a more balanced and sustainable growth model. The Pittsburgh G20 Summit confirmed these same principles, recalling the Rome Social Summit and welcoming the ILO Resolution on Recovering from the Crisis: A Global Jobs Pact. Also, during its Presidency of the G8, Italy launched the concept of a Global Legal Standard to develop a set of common principles and standards for propriety, integrity and transparency in international business and finance. Mr. Chairperson 2010 is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, providing a platform for a nation-wide participatory programme to renew Italy’s national anti-poverty strategy. Following White Paper guidelines, the Italian Government has thus launched a Programme of Action, whose initiatives include: public awareness raising on the living conditions of people in dire poverty; communication campaigns on poverty among specific groups, such as children, persons with disabilities, immigrants, ethnic minorities, and the homeless; the building of partnerships between public, private and non-profit anti-poverty organizations; and the promotion of the idea that social cohesion is an economic multiplier, thus requiring greater investments into social inclusion policies and services. Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.