Despite the European Union’s commitment to leave no one behind, millions of people in Europe are falling victim to widening inequalities, a major EU-wide report concludes. ‘Falling through the cracks: Exposing inequalities in Europe and beyond’ will be released on 18 June 2019.

The European Union and its member states are failing millions of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in Europe, as significant socio-economic and environmental inequalities worsen or persist. This is the conclusion of a new report which will be launched on 18 June 2019, at the European Development Days (EDD) in Brussels.

As a symbolic expression of the marginalisation which comes with inequality, ‘Falling through the cracks: Exposing inequalities in Europe and beyond’ will be launched on the sidelines of the EDD, outside the main entrance, throughout the morning of the 18th.

Come and learn more about the situation of inequalities in Europe and find out about the report from our knowledgeable staff who will be extremely easy to spot. Hint: they will be wearing sandwich boards.

If you are looking for a more formal setting, you can always attend the special session about the report inside the EDDs, in Room L1, 16:00-17:30, also on 18 June. In addition to an overview of the report, the presentation will include keynote remarks by a youth activist, presentations of inequalities in a selected country, the inequalities experienced by disabled people, action and inaction at the European level, and more.

About the report

‘Falling through the cracks: Exposing inequalities in Europe and beyond’ shines a light on the impact of rising inequalities on people and planet. The report, which makes for sobering reading, maps the reality of various forms of inequality, both nationally and at the European level. The report consists of 15 national reports and 11 thematic reports exploring key dimensions of inequality, including gender, age, disability, ethnicity and homelessness.

The report will be available from 18 June at: www.sdgwatcheurope.org/SDG10

Why this matters

The EU, the world’s second largest economy, prides itself on its egalitarianism and progressive social model, while glaring inequalities are seen as a problem afflicting other parts of the world. But the reality of the situation is something else. Many forms of inequalities are widening in Europe. If urgent action is not taken to address these gaping disparities, the EU is at risk of not meeting its commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the one related to narrowing inequalities within and between countries (SDG 10), by the 2030 deadline

About us

SDG Watch Europe is a cross-sectoral civil society alliance made up of over 100 organisations. It advocates for ambitious implementation of the SDGs.  Link: https://www.sdgwatcheurope.org/

Make Europe Sustainable for All (MESA) is coordinated by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and implemented in 15 European countries by 25 partners. It aims to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Link: https://makeeuropesustainableforall.org/