Poverty and Social Exclusion in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern European Member States

Abstract

Since the beginning of the crises in 2008 the number of Europeans at risk of poverty or social exclusion has significantly increased by 6.7 million, now affecting 24.8% of the European population. However, the crisis has not had a homogenous impact across the European Union with high poverty rates especially in most of the central, eastern and south-eastern European Member States. This Policy Issue focuses on poverty and deprivation in the new central and south-eastern European Member States (NMS 10). It highlights the current state of play and recent trends in the extent of poverty and its links to inequality. A combination of social and labour market inclusion policies, including adequate livelihoods, implementing effective activation policies and providing access to adequate services, is the key to contain and reverse recent increases in poverty and social exclusion.