Upcoming EU voting - A look at the European Union's impact on poverty and the environment through statistics
Back in 1957, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands got together and signed the Rome Treaties. This ultimately led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC), which we now know as the EU. Here's some current information:
Member States
The EU presently has 27 member countries. Croatia became the most recent member in 2013, whereas the UK decided to part ways in 2020. There are a number of candidate countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. The EU boasts 24 official languages. Out of these 24 countries, 20 rely on the Euro as their currency.
Population and Territory
The EU houses approximately 448.8 million individuals. Germany boasts the most inhabitants with 84.4 million of them. The EU encompasses around 4 million square kilometers of land. France occupies a whopping 634,000 square kilometers, making it the largest nation in the EU. Germany holds the fourth spot with about 353,000 square kilometers. The tiniest member is Malta, with a mere 313 square kilometers.
Quality of Life
The living standards among the member states differ greatly. The EU measures this using Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and purchasing power per capita using a standard score of 100 across the EU. Based on this method, Germany achieved a score of 115 in 2023 (preliminary figures). Luxembourg had the highest standard with 240, and Ireland landed at 212. Bulgaria, Greece, and Latvia ranked the lowest with 64, 67, and 71, respectively.
Poverty Risk
Nearly 16.5% of EU citizens were at risk of poverty in 2022. However, this risk fluctuated dramatically from one country to another. The Czech Republic had the lowest risk at 10.2%, followed by Hungary and Slovenia (both 12.1%). Germany had a rate of 14.7%. Lithuania, Estonia, and Bulgaria had the highest poverty risk at roughly 23%, as well as Italy and Spain with approximately 20%. Anyone with less than 60% of their country's average income is considered at risk of poverty.
Employment and Debt
The highest unemployment rates for individuals aged 20-64 were observed in Spain (12.6%), Greece (12.3%), and Italy (8.0%). These figures corresponded to the latest EU statistics in 2022. The Czech Republic had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.2%, while Poland and the Netherlands shared 2.8% and 2.9%, respectively. Germany's unemployment rate was 3.1%. The highest government debt was in Greece (172.6% of GDP) in 2022, while Bulgaria had the least with 22.6%. Germany's debt was at 66.1%.
The Environment
As per the most recent data for 2020, EU citizens emit an average of 7.5 tons of carbon dioxide per person. Luxembourg recorded the highest per capita emissions at 17 tons, whereas the lowest emissions were in Sweden (4.5 tons) and Malta (4.4 tons). Germany's emissions registered 9 tons.
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- Germany, as a part of the EU, has been actively working on reducing its carbon emissions to combat climate change.
- The EU elections in Brussels projected a shift in political dynamics, with the Green Party gaining significant influence in several member states, including France and the Netherlands.
- Montenegro, a candidate country to join the EU, is making progress in meeting the requirements set by the EU, such as implementing reforms in areas like human rights and rule of law.
- Despite the UK's departure from the EU in 2020, British employers continue to face challenges in finding skilled workers, as immigrants from EU countries once made up a significant portion of the workforce.
- The European Union's environmental policies have led to improvements in waste management and recycling, as seen in countries like Italy and Croatia.
- The EU has placed pressure on EEA countries like Norway and Iceland to align their policies with EU environmental standards, in order to maintain trade relations.
- With the presence of the EU in its neighboring countries, Albania and Moldova have benefited from increased political stability, economic growth, and reduced poverty levels.
- The Czech Republic, known for its low poverty risk, has implemented progressive social policies, emphasizing education and employment opportunities for its citizens.
- In response to rising poverty rates in Bulgaria, Greece, and Latvia, the EU has provided financial aid and development assistance to help improve social infrastructure and reduce unemployment.
- Bosnia-Herzegovina, still not an EU member but an aspiring candidate, has made strides in recent years to meet EU entry requirements, including reforms in corruption and rule of law.
- Luxembourg, in its role as a member of the European Union, has invested significantly in green infrastructure and energy efficiency projects, aiming to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- The EU's agricultural policies have resulted in farmers in countries like Greece and Bulgaria transitioning towards more sustainable farming practices, focusing on organic farming and reducing chemical use.
- Latvia, along with other EU countries facing high poverty levels, is benefiting from EU initiatives to improve education and vocational training, aiming to increase people's employment prospects and decrease poverty risk.
