An alarming report on European poverty was published by Caritas Europa, an umbrella organization that fights poverty and social exclusion. The report, titled “Poverty and Inequalities on the Rise – just social systems needed as the solution!”, was published on Thursday. It shows that more than a third of the population in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Latvia and Hungary are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. In half of the EU28, at least one in three children live in poverty.
The Caritas figures come as no surprise as they are broadly confirmed by Eurostat, the EU’s official statistical agency, that stated that one in four citizens were at risk of poverty in 2013. The Caritas reports focused on unemployment with testimonies from Greece and Spain.
In Greece, Caritas expressed concern about the increase in unemployment across all ages, especially young people and women. The report highlighted the failure of measures take so far, such as “job activation”. It also sounded the alarm at the high level of unemployed people unable to access other benefits. This is causing many side effects such as a worsening of health problems faced by the community at large and worsened racism caused by social problems that are propulgating society into disarray.
The report showcases the desperate situation of the unemployed in Greece.
Caritas warns the EU to cast greater attention on social issues and the humanitarian crisis when addressing EU economic woes. “Austerity policies put in place to tackle budget deficits and reduce Europe’s growing debt pile were having a devastating impact on the people of Europe,” warns Caritas. The report recommends putting a guaranteed minimum income in place and allowing everyone to live in dignity.
“The Europe documented in this report is not just,” said Jorge Nuño Mayer, secretary general of Caritas Europa. “The prioritisation of austerity measures has not solved the crisis but rather is causing social problems and unrest that risk having lasting impacts worldwide.”
