High numbers of youths at risk of poverty27% of children aged less than 18 are at risk of poverty in the EU27. The data is contained in a report on the living standards of minors carried out by Eurostat, presented on February 26. The findings of the survey refer to the end of 2011, in the period most affected by the crisis. The authors of the report state: "Children are at greater risk of poverty or social exclusion than the rest of the population, compared with 24% of adults (aged 18-64) and 21% of the elderly (aged 64 and over). The highest shares of persons being at risk of poverty or social exclusion were recorded in Bulgaria; where over 52% of minors are in this situation followed by Romania (49%), Latvia (44%), Hungary (40%) and Ireland (38%). The picture changes in North European countries. The report shows that 16% of minors are at poverty risk in Sweden, Denmark and Finland, 17% in Slovenia, 18% in Netherlands, and the lowest in the Czech Republic (14%), Sweden and the Netherlands (both 15%), Austria, Finland and Luxembourg (all 17%). In Germany 20% of children aged 0-17 are at poverty risk, 22% in the UK, 23% in France, 30% in Poland, and 32% in Italy. The increase in poverty-risk among European youth is due to various reasons such as the family origin (poverty-risk increases in families with a migrant background) and education. As relates to monetary poverty, almost half of all children whose parents had a low education level were at risk of poverty figures dropt to 7% in the case of children with parents that hold a university degree. Work-free Sundays The European Day for Work-free Sundays will be celebrated this year on March 3. "In these difficult times of economic insecurity too many workers and employers are coming under pressure and our society overlooks the importance of free time and the participation of citizens in society", states the European Sunday Alliance, promoter of the initiative. With regard to the current retrenchment of social policies, it is important to make our voice for decent work rhythms heard in order to improve the current practices and legislation in EU and Member States". In the wake of the Year for European citizens, Sunday Alliance points out "citizenship deserves time". For this reason the promoters demand that Sunday be used "for cultural enrichment or spiritual wellbeing or to take part in religious services inside the Church, sports clubs, family events or organizations of civil society".Eurobarometer, a survey on EU citizenship Do Europeans know they are EU citizens? Are they aware of the rights and responsibilities linked to European citizenship? Do they think it is an advantage to be part of the EU? The findings of a survey carried out by Eurobarometer on the occasion of a public debate jointly organized by EU Parliament and Commission on February 19 in Brussels in the framework of the European Year of Citizens are ambivalent. Accordingly, "20 years after the birth of EU citizenship Europeans are broadly aware of their rights, but do not always know what these entail". 81% of interviewees "know that they are EU citizens on top of their own nationality", but "only 36% feel well informed about the rights that EU citizenship entails". Most interviewees say they are aware of their rights as relates to free circulation (88%), non-discrimination on basis of nationality (82%), consular protection (79%) and participating in a Citizens’ Initiative (73%). But while over 30% say they are "well informed" about the rights (with a 5% increase compared to 2007), just 24% admit they would know what to do if their EU rights were not respected". Health: greater protection from second hand smoke Protection from second hand smoke has improved considerably in the EU, according to a report by the Commission. "28% of Europeans were exposed to second hand smoke in bars in 2012 – down from 46% in 2009", it states. The document is based on self-reporting by the 27 Member States, following the 2009 Council Recommendation on Smoke-free Environments 2009 to fully protect citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in enclosed public places. The report shows that the negative impact on smoking bans in bars and restaurants has been limited. Tonio Borg, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, said: "Member States have made steady progress in protecting their citizens from second hand smoke. Citizen’s exposure to smoking, however, still varies widely across the EU and there is a long way to go to make". For the Commission "exposure to second hand tobacco smoke is a wide-spread source of mortality, morbidity and disability".
