Caritas Europa is proud to present this comprehensive, timely and 
in-depth study on the impacts of the economic crisis and austerity 
policies on the European Union’s most vulnerable people. The
 Report has a special focus on the five EU Member States most-affected 
by the crisis – Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The report’s
 findings are grounded not just in empirical research but most 
importantly in the practical work carried out by Caritas member 
organisations in the five countries.