The European Union Against Poverty
Although Europe is one of the most developed regions in the world, millions of Europeans continue to lack the resources needed for a decent standard of living.
Corina Cristea, 05.06.2026, 14:00
Although Europe is one of the most developed regions in the world, millions of Europeans continue to lack the resources needed for a decent standard of living. For years, Brussels has been trying to narrow the gaps between citizens and to provide opportunities for all, but the reality is that one in five Europeans is at risk of poverty. The cost of living is, in fact, the main concern for 52% of Europeans. The lack of affordable housing is considered an immediate and urgent problem by 40% of citizens, and one million of them are homeless. Another issue highlighted by the survey concerns the obstacles many Europeans face in participating in a rapidly changing labor market. It is in this context that the European Commission is proposing a comprehensive package, which includes, in addition to a strategy with an ambitious goal—the eradication of poverty by 2050— a proposal for a Council recommendation on combating housing exclusion, and two communications: one on breaking the cycle of child poverty—strengthening the European Child Guarantee—and one on strengthening the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities.
Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Social Rights Roxana Mînzatu gives us details: “We have before us an anti-poverty package that requires the involvement of all decision-makers—the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, as well as national governments, regional and local authorities, and, where appropriate, civil society. And we have also included this dimension of private-sector responsibility, which must join this effort to combat poverty, because it is an important goal not only from a moral, democratic, and social cohesion perspective, but also from an economic perspective, of course. And so, there is no doubt that everything you will see in this package represents a set of measures that are being implemented not only with contributions at the European level, but also with the involvement of governments and Member States.”
Roxana Mînzatu is the European official who has recently presented the strategy’s key measures in Brussels. It incorporates three priorities: quality jobs for all, because quality jobs are the primary pathway out of poverty for those who can work; effective access to quality services and adequate income support; and coordinated actions to combat poverty. Here is Roxana Mînzatu back with further details: “We would like a legal instrument regarding minimum standards for support services for people who are inactive, who are not looking for a job but could work, because often people in precarious situations who receive certain types of social assistance are not motivated or choose not to seek employment, as the wage may be insufficient or too low to cover their daily living expenses—transportation to work, clothing, food, and childcare for a child left home alone.”
A separate section is dedicated to children, as no significant progress has been made in reducing child poverty over the past five years. The new EU plan aims to expand free access to early childhood education, healthcare, and school meals, while also providing support to families. Other target groups include people with disabilities, the most affected by the risk of poverty and unemployment. Given that 90 million people—more than 1 in 5 Europeans—live with a disability, full inclusion is imperative both to ensure respect for their rights and to boost Europe’s economy and democracy. However, barriers remain: only 55% of people with disabilities are employed, compared to 77% of people without disabilities; 1.4 million people with disabilities still live in institutions, and 1 in 3 are at risk of poverty—nearly double the European Union average, according to EU data. “To turn rights into reality, the Commission will step up its ambition and implementation. Actions include introducing the European Disability Card and the European Disability Parking Card at the EU level, launching an Alliance for Independent Living, improving transport accessibility, and investing in assistive technologies, such as AI tools,” the Commission states.
The strategy outlines a series of key actions to achieve these priorities. To break the cycle of poverty at every age, the Commission will, for example, consult with social partners on a possible new legal instrument to integrate people excluded from the labor market. The strategy also sets out ways to support older people through adequate pensions. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to join forces with national, regional, and local governments, businesses, and civil society to combat poverty, including by establishing a coalition against poverty later this year and a new structured dialogue to consult people experiencing poverty on relevant policies. Member States will discuss and adopt the proposed measures in the Council, and the Commission will monitor their implementation. The plan will also be reflected in the European budget, Roxana Mînzatu adds. According to analyses, an additional investment of just 0.25% of the Union’s GDP could take 18 million people out of poverty. (LS)
