Cyprus is well below the EU average in terms of the risk of poverty and social exclusion. The European Statistical Office (Eurostat) on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty published the data for the year 2020.
The data show that Cyprus with 17,6% is behind countries such as France, Belgium and Luxembourg which are below the EU average. but also countries such as Germany, Spain and Greece which are above the EU average. Eurostat also presents data on the sex of those affected. As it turns out there seems to be a balance. 18,6% are men and 16,6% are women.
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The numbers and statistics in no way cause complacency, on the contrary the competent services are on alert and are trying to take measures to improve the living standards of citizens. A typical example in this direction is the initiative recently taken by the President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiadis who chaired a meeting with stakeholders and achieved a horizontal reduction in the price of electricity in all bills by 10% for a period of 4 months. President Anastasiadis last Friday during the assurance ceremony of the President and Vice President of CERA, referred to issues of protection of vulnerable consumers and called on the beneficiaries of discounts, which fall into the category of vulnerable groups to seek but also interested in reaches 20% in electricity prices. The rise in the international price of oil is having an impact on commodity prices, with the result that these costs are inevitably passed on to the consumer.
Experts believe that accuracy is not a Cypriot phenomenon. This is also a consequence of the economic pandemic. International oil prices are moving at a rapid pace. It is reported that on Friday, October 15, they reached the highest price of the last three years, exceeding $ 85 per barrel, as a result of estimates for reduced supply in the coming months, as the easing of restrictive measures against coronavirus for travel, worldwide will jump demand for "black gold". Brent crude futures rose 1% to $ 84,86 a barrel. Brent prices reached the highest level since October 2018, at $ 85,10, showing an increase for the sixth consecutive week. Unprecedented energy prices are affecting the world and all countries of the world are studying ways to deal with the situation that prepares us for a difficult winter. The European Union is certainly no exception. The increase in energy prices will be discussed at the Summit on 21 and 22 October. Priority is expected to be given to targeted measures that can quickly mitigate the impact of rising prices on vulnerable consumers and small businesses. The issue of electricity and gas prices will also be on the agenda of the extraordinary European Union Energy Ministers' Meeting on 26 October in Luxembourg.
philenews.com