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In which European countries are the most people at risk of poverty?
Europe is not just about high wages and social security. In some countries, a significant proportion of the population faces low incomes, inequality and the risk of social exclusion. 📊 Top 10 European countries by the proportion of the population at risk of poverty or social exclusion: 🇹🇷 Turkey – 30.4% 🇧🇬 Bulgaria — 30.3% 🇷🇴 Romania — 27.9% 🇬🇷 Greece — 26.9% 🇪🇸 Spain — 25.8% 🇱🇹 Lithuania — 25.8% 🇱🇻 Latvia — 24.3% 🇮🇹 Italy — 23.1% 🇪🇪 Estonia — 22.2% 🇭🇷 Croatia — 21.7% On average across the European Union, 21 per cent of the population — around 93.3 million people — were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. (European Commission) 📉 Lowest rates in the EU: 🇨🇿 Czech Republic — 11.3% 🇸🇮 Slovenia — 14.4% 🇳🇱 The Netherlands — 15.4% 🇵🇱 Poland — 16.0% 🇮🇪 Ireland — 16.7% 🇫🇮 Finland — 16.8% 🇦🇹 Austria — 16.9% 🇨🇾 Cyprus — 17.1% 🇸🇪 Sweden — 17.5% 🇮🇹 Italy — 23.1% Consequently, approximately one in four people in Italy were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. However, the situation varies greatly from region to region: for example, in Calabria, this figure stood at 37.2% in 2024 — one of the highest rates among EU regions. (European Commission) 🇺🇦 And what about Ukraine? Ukraine is not included in the Eurostat rankings as it is not an EU member state. According to World Bank estimates, the poverty rate in Ukraine last year stood at around 37 per cent, which is significantly higher than pre-war levels. In 2021, the figure was estimated at around 20 per cent. (The World Bank) ⚠️ Important: the ‘risk of poverty or social exclusion’ indicator is not simply the number of people with an income below a certain threshold. It takes into account several criteria, including low income, severe material and social hardship, or very low labour intensity. 💶 WHAT SHOULD THE MINIMUM INCOME BE IN EUROPE? This figure is often referred to as the ‘subsistence minimum’, but officially Eurostat uses the term ‘at-risk-of-poverty threshold’. It is equal to 60 per cent of the median income in a given country. In other words, a person whose income is below this level is statistically considered to be at risk of poverty. 📊 At-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person, € per month: 🇱🇺 Luxembourg — €2,540 🇩🇰 Denmark — over €1,600 🇦🇹 Austria — over €1,500 🇮🇪 Ireland — over €1,500 🇳🇱 Netherlands — over €1,400 🇧🇪 Belgium — over €1,300 🇩🇪 Germany — €1,381 🇫🇷 France — €1,278 🇮🇹 Italy — €1,030 🇪🇸 Spain — €965 🇵🇱 Poland — around €700 🇵🇹 Portugal — less than €750 🇬🇷 Greece — less than €750 🇭🇷 Croatia — less than €750 🇱🇹 Lithuania — less than €750 🇸🇰 Slovakia — less than €750 🇭🇺 Hungary — less than €500 🇷🇴 Romania — less than €500 🇧🇬 Bulgaria — €391 🇪🇺 EU average — around €1,079 per month. ⚠️ But it’s important to note: this doesn’t mean that €1,079 is enough for a comfortable life. The figure reflects the relative level of income within a country and does not take into account the actual cost of rent, food, transport and other expenses. For example, the threshold in Italy is around €1,030, but in Milan, Rome or Naples, housing costs can account for a significant proportion of this amount.
There are calls in Poland to deport Ukrainians who are not in employment
In Poland, debate is gathering momentum over the idea of deporting Ukrainian men of conscription age who do not have legal employment from the country. The initiative was put forward by representatives of the opposition party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (PiS). At present, this is a political proposal rather than an existing law or a decision on mass deportation. PiS MP Andrzej Szlówka stated that the Polish authorities should identify people who are in Poland illegally or do not have official employment, and set a deadline for them to return to Ukraine. “Even if it’s 5 per cent, that’s at least a brigade, or even a division, of people who can be organised and who can fight for their country,” said Śliwka. According to him, such measures are also necessary for Poland’s security. However, according to UA Service HUB, there is currently no confirmation that the Polish authorities have decided on the mass deportation of Ukrainian men. This refers specifically to a political initiative and statements made by a PiS representative. At the same time, against the backdrop of this debate, the Ukrainian community in Poland is increasingly drawing attention to incidents of aggression and attacks on Ukrainians. Anti-Ukrainian sentiment is growing within Polish society, and certain political statements are only serving to intensify the debate surrounding the presence of Ukrainians in the country.
Bolt has permanently banned a female taxi driver who insulted Ukrainian women in Milan
The Bolt taxi service has permanently banned a Russian-speaking female driver from its app after she insulted and used foul language towards Ukrainian female passengers in Milan. This was reported by representatives of Bolt. “The safety of all users is our absolute priority. The behaviour shown in the video is unacceptable and incompatible with Bolt’s standards. We take reports of discriminatory and hateful behaviour extremely seriously and investigate every such case thoroughly,” the company stated. As a reminder, a high-profile incident took place in Milan a few days ago. After the journey had ended, a Russian-speaking female taxi driver began to insult two Ukrainian women, using foul language and xenophobic remarks. In particular, she shouted offensive phrases such as “sluts” and “immigrants”, and displayed openly aggressive behaviour. A video of the altercation quickly went viral on social media and caused a widespread public outcry. Anna Danylyuk, who had previously spoken about the incident on social media, confirmed that the company had informed her of the results of their investigation, reimbursed her travel expenses and offered her discount codes for future orders. She added that they had not reported the driver’s behaviour to the police because her “time in Milan was limited”.
‘Sluts, you’ve all turned up here’: a Russian-speaking female taxi driver in Milan insulted Ukrainian women
An unfortunate incident stemming from linguistic animosity took place in Milan. Two Ukrainian women claimed they were subjected to verbal abuse by a Russian-speaking taxi driver after their journey had ended. The incident was reported by the Instagram channel Kyivbreaking, which also published a video of the altercation. According to the women who filmed the video, they did not speak to the driver at any point during the journey, but only spoke to each other in Ukrainian. At the end of the journey, one of the passengers thanked the driver by saying ‘Thank you’. It was immediately after this, the Ukrainian women claim, that the driver began to speak aggressively, using foul language and offensive gestures. “Throughout the entire journey, nobody spoke to the driver, Tetyana; we spoke to each other in Ukrainian. At the end of the journey, as we were getting out of the car, my friend said ‘thank you’, to which we received a response consisting of insults, swear words and gestures. The video shows only a fragment that I managed to film. Before that, there were a great many offensive words and gestures. We were in shock,” said the authors of the video. In the published recording, the driver can be heard shouting offensive remarks at the Ukrainian women, including: “You’re driving me mad, Ukrainian women,” and “Sluts, you’ve all turned up here.” There is currently no information as to whether the victims have lodged a complaint with the police or the taxi service. UA Service Hub reminds readers that in Italy, as in other EU countries, insults, discrimination or harassment on the grounds of nationality may constitute grounds for reporting the matter to the police or the service provider’s management if the incident occurred whilst the service was being provided. If you have been the victim of such behaviour, it is important to preserve evidence (videos, photos, journey details) and report the incident to the relevant authorities.
EU countries have called for urgent action in response to the mass influx of irregular migrants
22 Member States— members of the European Union — have called on the EU leadership to provide an immediate and coordinated response to the situation in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which has recently faced a sudden mass influx of tens of thousands of irregular migrants. In a joint letter published on 1 August, the leaders emphasised that the European Union must ensure the effective protection of its external borders and prevent the perception that crossing the border illegally could be a route to legal residence within the EU. According to UA Service HUB, the document states that uncontrolled mass border crossings pose serious challenges to security, the work of border services and the EU’s migration policy. That is why the countries are calling for joint European solutions and a swift response to the crisis. The situation in Ceuta has once again raised the issue of strengthening the security of the EU’s external borders, reforming the migration system and coordinating actions between Member States. This issue is expected to be one of the key topics at the forthcoming meetings of European leaders. Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the northern coast of Africa, bordering Morocco. Together with Melilla, it is one of the few land borders between Africa and the European Union. It is for this reason that Ceuta has remained one of the main routes for irregular migration to the EU for many years. This week, the situation in the enclave has escalated sharply: thousands of people have attempted to cross the border with Morocco en masse, prompting a stepped-up response from border authorities and a new wave of debate in Europe regarding the control of the EU’s external borders and migration policy
The first Lady’s Cash transformation game took place in Naples: not even an earthquake could stop the participants
The first Lady’s Cash transformational game, organised by MindSpace Club, took place in Naples. The event focused on financial mindset, the energy of money and personal development. Despite its name, the game is not open to women only. Men are also welcome to take part, as its main aim is to help participants change their attitude towards finances, identify internal limitations related to money, and discover new opportunities for personal and professional growth. During the session, participants analysed their own financial scenarios, worked on their beliefs regarding abundance and discussed practical tools for achieving financial goals. A distinctive feature of the first game was that it continued uninterrupted even during an earthquake that was felt in Naples and many parts of Campania. Despite the unexpected situation, the participants remained calm and, after taking the necessary safety precautions, continued the session. This served as a symbol of resilience, inner confidence and a readiness to move forward despite any challenges. The organisers at MindSpace Club plan to hold these transformational games on a regular basis, creating a space for growth, support and the formation of a community of people striving for positive change in their lives.
Assault on Ukrainians in Poland: two suspects have been arrested, a third is wanted
An investigation is underway in Poland into the high-profile attack on a Ukrainian couple in Wrocław. The police have already arrested two men, aged 27 and 45, who are suspected of brutally beating the Ukrainian nationals. According to Polish media reports, one of the detainees has a previous criminal record and has taken part in bare-knuckle fights, whilst the other is a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Preliminary reports suggest the altercation began in a ‘Żabka’ shop over a queue. Once outside, the argument escalated into an assault, during which a Ukrainian man and a Ukrainian woman were injured. Law enforcement officers are continuing to search for the third person involved in the incident. All those involved could face up to five years’ imprisonment. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has responded to the incident. He stated that the rise in violence is linked to the fact that radical groups feel they have political support. Tusk also called on Polish President Karol Nawrocki to respond publicly to the situation and draw attention to the activities of radical groups. “We must wage a resolute fight against this violence, as thugs, hooligans and the culture of violence are becoming increasingly brazen. This is also linked to the fact that they feel they have political backing,” emphasised the head of the Polish government. The Prime Minister expressed his hope that the law enforcement agencies would promptly apprehend all those responsible, and that the courts would ensure fair punishment. He also stressed that attacks on Ukrainians run counter to Poland’s interests, and called on citizens to report any instances of violence or hate crimes to the police. As a reminder, UA Service HUB previously reported that a Ukrainian couple were brutally beaten in Wrocław following a dispute which, according to eyewitnesses, was accompanied by insults directed at their Ukrainian accent. The investigation is ongoing.
‘Literature is also a weapon’: Ukrainian writer wins prestigious award in Italy
Ukrainian writer Yaryna Hrusha has been awarded one of Italy’s most prestigious literary prizes — the Viareggio-Versilia International Prize, which forms part of the prestigious Viareggio-Répaci Prize. The award ceremony took place in the seaside town of Viareggio on the Tyrrhenian coast. Over the years, this international award has been presented to outstanding figures in the world of culture, including Nobel Prize winner Günter Grass and the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. This year, the jury honoured Yaryna Hrusha ‘for her significant contribution to the dissemination and promotion of Ukrainian culture in Italy and Europe, as well as for her literary work, which combines memory, identity and civic testimony’. Special mention was made of her novel *The Blue Photo Album*, which explores themes of memory, personal stories and the search for identity. During the ceremony, the writer thanked the award’s president, Paolo Mieli, the members of the jury, the Bompiani publishing house and the editor, Giulia Ikino. In her speech, she emphasised the symbolic significance of receiving the award in Viareggio — the town where the world-famous Ukrainian opera singer Solomiya Krushelnytska lived from 1915 to 1939. “Being here today means that, despite all attempts to destroy, erase and silence it, Ukrainian culture has survived thanks to courageous people,” noted Yaryna Hrusha. The writer dedicated her award to Ukrainian authors who died during the war, to those who were forced to take up arms instead of a pen, and to those who continue to fight with words. “Literature is also a weapon,” she concluded, ending her speech with the words: “Glory to Ukraine!” The Viareggio-Rèpaci Prize, established in 1929, is considered one of Italy’s most prestigious literary awards. It is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in prose, poetry, essay writing, journalism, literary debuts and international cultural activities. Yaryna Hrusha was born in Ukraine. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology, specialising in literary studies and translation. For many years, she has been working at the intersection of Ukrainian and Italian cultures, engaging in translation, literary projects and cultural diplomacy.
Мер Вроцлава засудив напад на українців: «У нашому місті немає місця ксенофобії»
Мер Вроцлава Яцек Сутрик виступив із публічною заявою після жорстокого нападу на молоду українську пару. Він наголосив, що у місті немає місця насильству, дискримінації та злочинам на ґрунті ненависті. «Кожна людина, незалежно від того, якою мовою вона розмовляє, звідки походить чи у що вірить, має право почуватися у Вроцлаві в безпеці. Напад через походження — це напад на всю нашу спільноту», — заявив мер. Він висловив підтримку постраждалим, закликав поліцію якнайшвидше встановити та покарати винних, а також звернувся до мешканців із проханням не залишатися байдужими: повідомляти про подібні випадки правоохоронцям і, якщо це безпечно, фіксувати їх на фото чи відео. Окремо мер застеріг політиків і громадських діячів від риторики, яка ділить людей на «своїх» і «чужих», підкресливши, що такі висловлювання можуть провокувати реальне насильство. Нагадаємо, у Вроцлаві було жорстоко побито молоду українську пару. За повідомленнями польських ЗМІ, напад мав ознаки злочину на ґрунті національної ненависті. Інцидент викликав широкий суспільний резонанс і став приводом для публічної реакції міської влади. За даними UA Service HUB, сьогодні Польща залишається країною з найбільшою українською громадою в Європі. За різними офіційними оцінками, у країні перебуває близько 2 мільйонів громадян України, включно з людьми, які прибули після початку повномасштабної війни, а також тими, хто проживав і працював у Польщі раніше. Подібні заяви місцевої влади є важливим сигналом підтримки для української громади та підтверджують, що боротьба з ксенофобією і захист прав людини залишаються одним із пріоритетів демократичних європейських суспільств.