Dropping household incomes, unemployment highs unseen in 20 years and a growing risk of poverty - that's the picture of the impact the financial crisis has had on employment and social development in the European Union, reports Rzeczpospolita.

"These numbers, which please nobody, are the result of the economic crisis, the recession," said EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Laszlo Andor. "Moreover, the social situation is getting worse at the moment," he told reporters at a press conference in Brussels. The latest European Commission data suggests the risk of poverty and social exclusion has increased, especially in the southern and eastern parts of Europe.

In 2011, nearly a quarter of EU citizens (24.2 percent) were at threat of poverty, including 8.7 percent of EU citizens with jobs. Household incomes fell hardest in Greece (down 17 percent), Spain (8 percent), Cyprus (7 percent), Estonia (5 percent) and Ireland (5 percent). Poland, Germany, France and Scandinavia managed to grow household incomes despite the crisis (in Poland by 1.5 percent). Officials credit elasticity in those job markets as well as strong social programs.

Poland A.M.