07/26/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/25/2021 22:06 Economic Recovery Plans Essential to Delivering Inclusive and Green Growth that Shields Households at Risk of Poverty BRUSSELS, July 26, 2021 - EU member states must ensure careful and efficient implementation of economic recovery plans that support inclusion and growth to bounce back from the worst impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, says a new World Bank report. Inclusive Growth at a Crossroads- finds that the unprecedented and exceptional policy response of governments and EU institutions has cushioned the worst impacts on employment and income. However, the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated deep-seated inequalities, halting progress in multiple areas including gender equality and income convergence across the EU member states. A further three to five million people in the EU today are estimated to be 'at risk of poverty,' based on national thresholds benchmarked before the crisis.