At least 20 percent of children in the EU risk living in poverty

At least 20 percent of the 100 million children, aged from 0 to 18, living in the EU are exposed to the risk of living in poverty. In the context of the current economic crisis, the number of those exposed to living in poverty is even higher. The cuts on money allowances for low-income earners and children, and budget cuts affecting education and health care sectors, as well as children protection and regional development, heighten the poverty risk for this vulnerable population group.

An EU conference on poverty and welfare among children will take place in Marche-en-Famenne in Belgium between September 2^nd and 3^rd , and the topic, as well as measures that could be taken by EU-member states to improve the existing situation. The conference also marks a landmark in the 2010 European year agains poverty and social exclusion.