Minister for Health - Social Policy said Spain’s social policies have slowed an increase in povert

Minister for Social Policy, and host of the meeting, recalled that of the millions of Europeans, 16 per cent of the population is in poverty

Minister for Health and Social Policy said Spain’s social policies have "slowed" an increase in poverty

"Despite the economic crisis worsening the situation of many people, social protection has prevented figures from becomig worse than in previous years," said Jimenez during the presentation of the opening of the conference, which begins today, of the Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion by the European Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla.


Minister for Social Policy, and host of the meeting, recalled that of the millions of Europeans, 16 per cent of the population is in poverty, and that in the case of Spain it could approach 20 percent according to the indicators used to measure it. "We did not improve because the economic crisis has failed to improve the indicators, but we have allowed social protection policies to curb the potential for others to fall into a situation of exclusion or risk criteria," said Jimenez.

According to Jimenez, the Government has collated data from the Eurobarometer, the INE and fragmented sectoral indicators and to make this conclusion on the situation in Spain, which according to the minister, confirmed the unemployment data and "what we spend on unemployment benefits" among other indicators of health and social policies.

The European commissioner has defended the need to coordinate the EU policies and strategies in the fight against poverty, he urged that "each country must assume the responsibilities incumbent upon it" and has opted to "encourage some states to do more than what they have done so far" regarding social protection and employment and training policies. One in ten Europeans live in households where no member is working and eight percent of Europeans are also working but still live in poverty.




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