A report published at the latest EU social summit reveals that most European countries have made progress in fighting poverty and accessing the labor market.
At the EU social summit, participants approved the implementation of 20 additional measures aimed at strengthening the social pillar of the European Union, as well as combating the effects of the crisis and countering populism, the main political beneficiary of the latter.
These measures are structured around 20 principles divided into three categories: “equal opportunities” concerning access to the labor market, “social protection and inclusion,” and “fair working conditions.”
The text on the European Pillar of Social Rights is certainly not binding, as states retain their competence in social policy, but it constitutes a serious commitment towards a more just Union at social and economic levels.
A study published by the Bertelsmann Foundation concludes that Europe has emerged from the economic crisis and is making progress in social justice. The index was developed taking into account five basic criteria and the action of member states in the following areas: poverty prevention, equitable education, access to the labor market, social cohesion and non-discrimination, health, and intergenerational justice.
This positive development is evident in all Union countries in recent years, but there are significant differences between member states. Thus, Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Finland top the list, followed by the Czech Republic, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. Greece ranks last among the 28, preceded by Bulgaria and Romania.
The recovery of the labor market has been an immediate effect of the economic recovery in the European Union. Job opportunities have increased in 26 of the 28 member states compared to the previous year, and recent data shows that the average unemployment rate in Europe has declined to 8.7%, far from the 11% recorded in 2013, at the height of the social crisis. Another positive sign: the countries hardest hit by the crisis are also seeing their job markets improve, although the total number of unemployed remains very high, particularly in southern Europe.
Thus, Greece’s unemployment rate dropped from 27.7% in 2013 to 23.7% in 2016, and in Spain, it fell from 26.2% to 19.7% over the same period. Youth unemployment rates in southern Europe have also declined. In Greece, for example, it decreased from 60% in 2013 to its current level of 47.3%. Spain shows a similar scenario, with a drop from 55.5% to 44.4%. In Italy, the youth unemployment rate is now 37.8%. Overall, the youth unemployment rate in the entire European Union dropped from 23.6% in 2013 to 18.7% currently.
As a result of this positive employment trend, the risk of poverty and social exclusion has also slightly decreased: while 24.7% of the EU’s population was at risk of falling into poverty during the peak of the crisis in 2012-2013, “only” 23.4% of Europeans face this risk today, according to the latest figures. However, this still corresponds to around 117.5 million people. The differences between northern and southern Europe remain notable, with many countries heavily affected by the crisis continuing to stagnate and showing only very modest progress in poverty prevention.
For example, no less than 35.6% of Greeks are still at risk of falling into poverty and social exclusion, followed by 27.9% of Spaniards and 28.7% of Italians. By comparison, in Denmark, Finland, and the Czech Republic, the top three in poverty prevention, these figures range between 13.3% and 16.7%.
Certain social groups, such as children and young people, remain significantly more exposed to risk: 26.5% of children and adolescents under 18 across the EU are at risk of falling into poverty and suffering from social exclusion. This represents about 25 million people.
