Parliament’s proposals to eradicate poverty in the EU by 2035 

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• Poverty is a violation of human dignity, say MEPs 
• Focus must be on fighting child poverty, which affects one in four European children 
• Employment and access to housing and public services key to reducing poverty 

On Thursday, Parliament called for more funding and coordination to combat poverty and social exclusion in the EU.

MEPs want the Commission to recognise poverty as a violation of human dignity in its upcoming anti-poverty strategy and want to see it work urgently to eradicate poverty by 2035 at the latest. In an own-initiative report, adopted by 385 votes in favour and 141 against, and with 53 abstentions, they also call for adequate budgetary resources for anti-poverty measures in the EU’s long-term budget and for proper coordination between the EU and its member states.

Child poverty

Given that the number of children at risk of poverty is growing, Parliament demands better support for EU countries to implement the European Child Guarantee to ensure access to free healthcare, education, care, and healthy nutrition for all children in need. To that end, MEPs are calling for a dedicated budget of at least €20 billion for the European Child Guarantee. Member states should allocate at least 5% of European Social Fund+ funds to specific projects combating child poverty, and at least 10% for those countries with child poverty and social exclusion levels higher than the EU average.

Combating poverty through employment

Full employment and social protection should be standard objectives for economic and social policies, MEPs say, and the Commission and EU countries should promote policies to protect labour rights and fair wages, including equal pay for equal work. To end poverty among people who have a job, they call for better access to childcare services and tailored career guidance.

Universal access to public services

The Commission and member states should increase public investment in policies that provide universal access to housing, food, water, sanitation, energy, and transport, according to MEPs. This could help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and boost social and employment inclusion.

Parliament wants an action plan to end homelessness across the EU by 2030, with specific measures targeted at children and families, workers who have lost their jobs, and women.

Finally, the report calls for measures to enhance the political participation of people experiencing poverty, so that they are involved in decision-making, and in the implementation and evaluation of policies affecting them.

Quote

Rapporteur João Oliveira (The Left, PT) said: “The anti-poverty strategy must be ambitious. It must address the structural causes of poverty, promote a fairer distribution of wealth, improve working conditions, ensure robust investment in public services, and guarantee access to decent housing for all. The active participation of people experiencing poverty in the design of the policies, as well as an adequate budget, are essential to achieve this.”

Background

According to European Commission data, in 2024, 93.3 million people in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including 20 million children – a quarter of the EU’s children. In 2021, Parliament called for an overarching EU anti-poverty strategy with ambitious targets to reduce poverty and end extreme poverty in Europe by 2030.

Under the 2021 European Pillar of Social Rights action plan, the EU committed to reducing the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030, including at least five million children. As part of a commitment to tackle poverty and support social inclusion, the Commission is currently preparing the EU’s first ever anti-poverty strategy; it is expected in 2026.