17% of EU Population Live in Poverty

84 M Europeans live below the poverty line and 26 M are unemployed, according to data by European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

The economic and financial crisis has turned into a social and democratic one and only 31% of Europeans have trust in EU, informs EESC.

“As a result of the crisis, in some austerity-hit countries we have witnessed increasing political extremism, demagogy and prejudice.”, stated EESC official Luca Jahier at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) high-level conference in Vilnius that was held on 23 October.

EESC is an EU institution describing itself as the 'bridge' between European policymakers and organised civil society.