Rome- The European Network of Catholic Charities warned in its report that the belt-tightening policies adopted by the European Union in response to a debt crisis would have a devastating effect on the poor.
Jorge Mayer, General Secretary of Caritas Europe, said while presenting the report on Thursday in Rome that prioritisation of austerity measures had not solved the crisis in any form.
He said rather it had caused series of social problems and unrest that risked having lasting impacts worldwide.
Mayer said cuts on welfare benefits, health, social housing, education, and legislation reducing job security “are ,in many cases, turning temporary problems into long-term disadvantage for large numbers of people.
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He said the 2013 Eurofound survey indicated that 31 per cent of Greeks, 28 per cent of Cypriots found it “very difficult” to see a doctor because of the cost.
Also in that category, he said were 23 per cent of Italians and 16 per cent of Irish and Romanians.
“EU statistics from November showed that the number of people struggling with poverty or social exclusion in the bloc had risen to 122.6 million in 2013.
“This figure is up from 116.6 million in 2008, just under a quarter of the total population.
“The share of people classified as “severely materially deprived” rose from 8.5 to 9.6 per cent over the same period,’’ he said.
He said Eurostat data, showed that in Greece it almost doubled, from 11.2 to 20.3 per cent.
Mayer called on EU governments to ensure “a guaranteed minimum income for all,” tackle tax evasion to share the burden of the crisis more equitably.
He also called on them to resume public investment to create more jobs, and strengthen welfare systems.
He said that any new government decisions should be subjected to a “poverty-proofing process” to make sure that they would not have a negative impact on the most marginalised sections of society. (dpa/NAN)
