Increasing social inequality in the EU
2.10.2014
Question for written answer E-007448-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Miltiadis Kyrkos (S&D)
According to a survey conducted by the German Bertelsmann Foundation published on 15.9.2014, the gap in social justice, both between North and South, and between the generations, has been steadily growing, particularly during the crisis. With the new index for social justice, the Foundation has investigated six aspects. According to the survey, while there is still a high level of social integration in the affluent northern European countries, social injustice has increased in countries such as Spain, Italy and Hungary, with Greece occupying the last place out of the 28 Member States in the classification.
The analysis is particularly critical about growing intergenerational inequality, with 28% of young people at risk of poverty and social exclusion. In Greece, the youth unemployment rate is almost 60%.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
- —Can it confirm the data in the survey?
- —Four years after the adoption of the ‘Europe 2020’ Strategy and taking into account these data, does it consider that it has achieved the goal of social inclusion — that is one of its five core objectives — or does it believe that points of the strategy need to be reviewed in order to close the gap in social inequality, both between North and South, and between the generations?
- —With regard to countries that are undergoing adjustment programmes, does it intend to analyse the situation and make recommendations based on the Annual Growth Survey?