Den fælles udfordring, som de fælles politikker og de forskellige regeringer står over for, består derfor i at garantere, at hovedmekanismerne for omfordeling af muligheder og ressourcer - arbejdsmarkedet, skattesystemerne, systemerne for social beskyttelse, uddannelse, erhvervsuddannelse, bolig, sundhed og andre tjenesteydelser - gøres tilstrækkelig universelle i forbindelse med de strukturelle forandringer for at imødekomme behovene hos de befolkningsgrupper, der er mest udsatte for fattigdom og social udstødelse.
Consequently, the common challenge that Community policies and the various national governments face is to ensure that the main mechanisms for the distributive effects of the labour market - the tax system, social security, education, housing, health and other public services - become sufficiently universal to respond to the needs of those who are most exposed to the risks of poverty and social exclusion.