The European Commission has unveiled its first comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling poverty across the Union’s member states. EC Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu stated that the initiative’s objective is to "eradicate poverty in the EU within 25 years," setting a target date of 2050.
The Scale of the Problem
Currently, approximately 92.7 million people in the 27 EU countries—nearly one in five residents—are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Although the EU previously set a target to reduce the number of people facing poverty by at least 15 million by 2030, only about 3.7 million people have seen an improvement in their circumstances to date.
The Commission's Proposed Actions
The anti-poverty strategy does not feature a dedicated independent budget, relying instead on recommendations, best-practice frameworks, and the coordination of member state actions. The Commission is counting on the redistribution and more efficient use of existing funds; for instance, approximately €50.2 billion from the European Social Fund is allocated for social inclusion and combating material deprivation, with another €100 billion earmarked for social policy in the upcoming multi-annual budget.
At the heart of the strategy is the protection of children from low-income families, support for the homeless and people with disabilities, the expansion of social and affordable housing, the strengthening of household assistance programs, and the promotion of employment for the jobless.
Child Guarantees and Digital Innovation
A flagship initiative will be the reinforcement of the "European Child Guarantee" and the gradual expansion of a tool dubbed the "Child Guarantee Card." This digital instrument will enable national authorities to identify children in need and provide them with free services, including education, nutrition, healthcare, and social support.
A Two-Stage Objective
The EU has set two interconnected goals:
- By 2030, to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million, including at least 5 million children;
- In the long term, to completely eradicate poverty and social exclusion within the EU by 2050.
Experts point out that these goals are highly ambitious, especially since the first results will only be reached by 2030, and their implementation requires political will and systemic reforms within member states.
Independent Implementation Without a Dedicated Budget
A defining feature of the initiative is that the EU is not earmarking additional funds specifically for an "anti-poverty budget." The Commission is calling on member states to utilize existing European funds more effectively and to redistribute national spending, essentially asking them to "defeat poverty independently" while adhering to benchmarks set by Brussels.
Significance for the EU's Future
If the strategy is realized, future generations of Europeans could grow up in a society with fundamentally lower levels of poverty and social disparity. At the same time, success depends not so much on declarations made in Brussels as on the readiness of each state to transform its social systems, tax policies, and approaches to housing, education, and healthcare.
