Poverty and poverty risk The first European definition of poverty was introduced by a decision of the Council of the European Union in 1975, defining ‘the poor’ as “individuals or families whose resources are so small as to exclude them from the minimal acceptable way of life of the member state in which they live”. This original definition clearly sets out a relative notion of poverty, which continues to guide the EU processes and policies in this field. more Social exclusion, social inclusion, social protection and active inclusion The concepts of social inclusion and social exclusion are closely linked to poverty, but have a different connotation. Whereas poverty is a certain condition in which an individual or household may find itself, social inclusion and social exclusion are processes that operate at the level of a given society and may give rise to, prevent or alleviate poverty. more Adequacy and sustainability Adequacy of social benefits implies that benefits prevent poverty and social exclusion. In the field of pensions, adequate pensions provide a decent standard of living in retirement, irrespective of a person’s ability to acquire own pension entitlements and allow older people to share in the economic well-being of their country and to participate actively in the public, social and cultural life. more