While heads of state were focusing on bringing more countries into the EU during a summit in Spain on Friday, millions of citizens across the current 27 member states are being neglected.
There are now 900,000 homeless people on any given night in Europe. And it’s estimated that up to 125 million people in Europe live in energy poverty.
Kim Van Sparrentak, Dutch MEP
Apparently social welfare systems in the EU are broken.
People across Europe are struggling to pay their rent, their mortgages, even the energy to heat their houses.
Those losing their jobs are at a serious risk of becoming immediately homeless.
Pedro Marques, Portuguese MEP
Sanctions against Russia are hurting the EU economy while huge sums are spent on the war in Ukraine. Unlike EU decision makers, it seems a growing number of citizens want peace talks.
The solution is there. The solution is not to re-arm Europe.
Member of Public 01
If France or Belgium had the war and Ukraine had this huge money. Are we thinking that they’re gonna give us this money? I don’t believe so.
Member of Public 02
The European Central Bank has now increased interest rates 10 times in a row; the strategy, aimed at reducing inflation, is being questioned.
Inflation is the enemy of the poor and those on low incomes. But equally high interest rates causes recessions and recessions bring about unemployment.
Billy Kelleher, Irish MEP
Meanwhile, the cash keeps flowing out of the EU and into Ukraine.
Since things escalated in February last year, the EU has spent 83 billion euro on arming Ukraine, propping up the government in Kyiv, and housing Ukrainian refugees.
Some legislators claim it’s a war the EU simply cannot afford or win.
Analysts point out that those driving the EU’s economic and foreign policies are well able to afford the consequences, unlike the average citizen.
