A First ever European Strategy to Eradicate Poverty by 2050

A First ever European Strategy to Eradicate Poverty by 2050

On 6 May 2026, the European Commission published the Communication* on the first ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, which aims to support reaching the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan’s goals of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030, as well as eradicate poverty by 2030.

The initiatives included within the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy are grouped into 3 strands:

1. Measures to tackle poverty in every age group, including actions such as:
   • Communication on “Breaking the cycle of child poverty – Strengthening the European Child Guarantee”, announcing measures to improve comprehensive access to all the services children need to realise their full potential in life, including children with disabilities.
   • 2027 Toolkit to link and strengthen the coordination between the Child and Youth Guarantee.
   • Consultation of European social partners** to obtain their views on the possible direction of EU action to support the activation of persons excluded from the labour market and equality between women and men with regard to labour market opportunities.
   • In 2027, the Commission will put forward a Commission Recommendation providing evidence-based policy guidance and best practices to prevent and combat in-work poverty.
   • In early 2027, the  Commission will publish a Compendium of best practices to help address non take-up of income support.
   • In 2027, the Commission and the Social Protection Committee will publish a Joint Report on Adequate Social Protection in Old Age, which identifies gaps in pension adequacy and long-term care coverage across Member States, and an Expert Report mapping and reviewing national mechanisms to protect older people from poverty.

2. Measures to address horizontal challenges that aggravate poverty:
   • Social services have an important role to play in providing the necessary basic welfare and support to those already experiencing poverty and preventing others from falling into poverty. This is why the Commission will work with the Social Protection Committee to update the 2010 Voluntary European Quality Framework for Social Services, update the 2023 Commission Report on Access to Essential Services, and put forward a proposal for a Council Recommendation, to support easier and integrated access to services.
   • Together with this Strategy, the Commission puts forward a proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion 
   • In 2027, the Commission will put forward a European Care Deal, which will guide reforms and investments for affordable and high-quality care services across the life course.

3. Strengthening governance and funding, and improving monitoring to reduce and prevent poverty, including:
   • A guidance document to help national, regional and local authorities plan and improve their anti poverty strategies and frameworks
   • In the framework of the European Semester, the Commission will continue providing guidance to the Member States and help coordinate relevant national policies.
   • The Commission’s proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 earmarks at least 14% of the National and Regional Partnership Plans to social objectives. Member States are asked to concentrate its resources on four types of social measures: social inclusion; food or basic material assistance; addressing child poverty and implementing the European Child Guarantee; combating youth unemployment and implementing the Youth Guarantee. The proposed EU Facility will enable to continue supporting micro-finance and finance for social enterprises through a budgetary guarantee mechanism, as under the current Social Investment and Skills Window of the InvestEU.

* An EU Commission Communication is a non-binding policy instrument that can take many forms: it may include policy evaluations, commentary or explanations of action-programmes or brief outlines on future policies or arrangements concerning details of current policy. 

** This might lead to a legislative proposal, although the Communication does not explicitly state that a Directive or Regulation will be published. Under Article 154 TFEU, the Commission must consult EU-level social partners in two stages before proposing legislation in the employment or social policy field. The first-stage consultation asks social partners about the possible direction of EU action—which is exactly the wording you quoted. If the Commission concludes that EU action is needed, it can then launch a second-stage consultation on the content of a possible initiative. If social partners do not decide to negotiate an agreement themselves, the Commission may proceed with preparing a legislative proposal. More information available here.

*** A Council recommendation is a non-binding legal act issued by the Council of the European Union. It allows EU institutions to make their views known and suggest a specific line of action to member states without imposing strict legal obligations or penalties for non-compliance. They are proposed by the European Commission and adopted by the Council of the EU.

More information about the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy is available here.