The European Union (EU) Regular EconomicReport (RER), is a semiannual publication of the World BankGroup and covers economic developments, prospects, andeconomic policies in the European Union. The report usesfour sub-groups that share broadly similar developmentpatterns EU : Central Europe comprises Bulgaria, Croatia,Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republicand Slovenia; Northern Europe comprises Denmark, Estonia,Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden; Southern Europecomprises Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain; WesternEurope comprises Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland,Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Whilethe report covers the European Union, it provides additionalinformation on European countries which had historically astronger operational engagement with the World Bank Group,in particular, Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland and Romania. Thefocus note of this RER covers “Welfare States and theProtection of the Poor in the European Union”.