Romania is facing the highest poverty rate in the EU, particularly affecting children and the elderly, while government measures remain insufficient.

According to the Erste Bank report, Romania has a poverty rate of 17.2%, surpassing Bulgaria and Greece, with 27.9% of the population exposed to major risks. Children are the most affected, with 33.8% living in precarious conditions. Although the poverty rate has slightly decreased, young people and pensioners are facing financial difficulties, and the government is postponing pension increases. Critics highlight the lack of concrete action to reduce inequalities, resulting in the forced migration of Romanians in search of a better life abroad.