Brussels convention looks at fighting poverty in Europe

(Vatican Radio) In Brussels this week, The European Commission this week has been host to the Second Annual Convention of the Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, in partnership with the Cyprus Presidency. With more than 80 million people in the EU at risk of poverty – including 20 million children and 8% of the working population – the European Platform against poverty and social exclusion sets out actions to reach the EU target of reducing poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million by 2020. The ongoing economic and financial crisis has taken its toll on Europe and Europeans – and especially on Greece, which continues to struggle to emerge from a crushing public debt crisis and high unemployment. At the WPO convention in Brussels, Nikos Voutsinos of Caritas Greece spoke to Vatican Radio’s Salvatore Sabatino about the ways in which the Greek people are responding to the challenges they face. “People are willing to help [each other],” he said. “That sense gives us more hope and more enthusiasm to continue.” Listen to Voutsinos’ extended conversation with Vatican Radio’s Salvatore Sabatino: