Caritas Europa’s report End poverty in Europe – our solutions to make it happen (April 2016) identified long-term unemployed people, working poor, single parents, children and migrants and refugees as the groups of people most at risk of poverty.

Rights most at risk are access to decent jobs, decent housing and healthcare. Children and youth are disproportionately affected: children because of the precarious working conditions, labour market exclusion and income of their parents; youth because of their difficulties to access the labour market and in particular decent jobs.

Caritas Europa stresses the aggravated consequences for children of single parents in the absence of, or limited social protection, as confirmed by recent research showing that single parents and their children are less likely to experience poverty and social exclusion, if available social protection systems including different types of benefits related to childcare, housing, education, health, etc. allow all members of the household to access quality services and cover basic needs, a condition further improved by enabling an easier access to employment for the parent.

Labour activation policies are important yet only part of the solution. The design of a complementary social protection system including various types of benefits and services is essential. Increasing dualisation on the labour market and impact of austerity measures on social protection systems, both in terms of access to services and social benefits have led to increasing inequalities. This trend needs to be reversed in order for the EU and its Member States to achieve the Europe 2020 targets and the 2030 SDG targets.

Inequalities feed social tensions, are a threat to social cohesion and undermine the European Project. It is of utmost importance that Social Europe be strengthened and its positive impact be tangible for people living in or at risk of poverty. If the EU Social Pillar initiative does not succeed in achieving this, the future of the EU as such is at risk.

When my children are not there, I don’t heat my apartment. As for the food, when they are not here, I eat less. I don’t want them to feel that I miss money. I tighten my belt. The hardest part is that I cannot give them what I would like to.

Fabrice, father of 3, beneficiary of Caritas France – Secours Catholique