Almost 80 million Europeans live at risk of poverty, which means they face insecurity, and go without what most people often take for granted. Poverty also means having to cope with limited lifestyle choices that may lead to social exclusion. Inspired by its founding principle of solidarity, the European Union has joined forces with its Member States to make 2010 the European Year For Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. The key objectives are to raise public awareness about these issues and renew the political commitment of the EU and its Member States to combat poverty and social exclusion.

The Year was launched in Madrid, on 21 January 2010 at a high-level conference being organised by the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency of the EU.

Visit the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion page (in all languages).

Visit the website of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (in all languages).

Read the Agency's Blog post 'Labour is not a commodity'

As the Healthy Workplaces campaign on risk assessment draws to a close, a new Risk Assessment Tools Database was made available. The Agency’s new campaign for 2010-2011 will raise awareness of the importance of maintenance for safe and healthy workplaces and the need to protect workers that carry it out. The focal points already invite nominations for the national Good Practice Awards.

Read the press release

Risk Assessment Tools Database

Good Practice Awards 2010/2011