The General Report on Poverty, which was commissioned by the government at the time, was published in 1994. This report was the result of two years of work and brought together organizations in which the poorest had their say along with local public welfare agencies, social workers from the social assistance and special juvenile assistance sectors, teachers, doctors, employers and labor unions, and so on.
In the General Report on Poverty, it was asked that a structural tool be developed for fighting poverty. In 1998, a “Cooperation Agreement between the Federal State, the Communities, and the Regions concerning the continuation of the Poverty Reduction Policy” was signed by the Federal Governement and the regional and community governements and approved by its parliaments. This agreement provided for, among other things, the formation of the Combat Poverty, Insecurity and Social Exclusion Service. This Service was established in July 1999.