On 6 May 2026 the European Commission adopted the first ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, a Communication on strengthening the European Child Guarantee and a proposal for a Council recommendation on fighting housing exclusion.
Why we need an EU Anti-Poverty Strategy
Solution and main priorities
Addressing poverty across people’s lives- strengthening the European Child Guarantee
- consulting social partners on a legislative initiative to support the activation of people excluded from the labour market
- new guidance to address in-work poverty
- supporting older people through adequate pensions, opportunities to stay in work
Tackling drivers of poverty- the proposed Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion aims to ensure that everyone has a safe place to live, and to act early to prevent homelessness before it happens
- ensure easier access to social services
- addressing discrimination and stigma around poverty
Joining efforts to combat poverty- principles for effective anti-poverty policies across the EU
- national coordinators
- ensuring people with lived experience of poverty help design solutions
- Coalition Against Poverty with businesses and philanthropic organisations
A comprehensive approach to eradicate poverty
The EU Anti-Poverty Strategy sets a clear path toward reaching the EU target laid out in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030, as well as helping eradicate poverty by 2050.
The goal is to support Europeans to find affordable places to live, work, and raise their families, without being anxious about their tomorrow. We have also put forward the European affordable housing plan to make housing more affordable, more sustainable, and of better quality.
List of new initiatives included in the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy
1. Measures to tackle poverty in every age group
- 6 May 2026Communication on Breaking the cycle of child poverty – Strengthening the European Child Guarantee
- 2026First-stage consultation of European social partners
Launch the first-stage 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 - 2026 and continuousReport on the enforcement of Minimum Wages Directive, followed by mutual learning activities
- 2027Commission Recommendation to combat in-work poverty
Commission Recommendation providing evidence-based policy
guidance to prevent and combat in-work poverty in the European
Union, followed-up by dedicated structured discussions with the
Member States - 2027Compendium of best practices to help address non-take-up of benefits
- 2027High-level exchange on integrated policies for dignified old age
2. Measures to address horizontal challenges that aggravate poverty
- 6 May 2026Proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion
- In agreement with the SPCUpdate of the Social Protection Committee EU Voluntary Quality Framework
- 2027Update 2023 Commission Report on Access to Essential Services
- 2027Proposal for a Council Recommendation on easier and integrated access to services
3. Strengthening governance and funding and improving monitoring to reduce and prevent poverty
- 6 May 2026Principles for effective anti-poverty policies
- 2026Cooperation agreement and Joint Action Plan
Conclude a cooperation agreement with the European Economic
and Social Committee and a Joint Action Plan with the Committee
of Regions on actions supporting fight against poverty - Launch in 2026Coalition Against Poverty with private sector and philanthropy
- Launch in 2027EU Social Inclusion Award
- Launch in 2027Structured dialogue with persons experiencing poverty
- 2028New poverty indicators
Related documents
The Commission is setting out the ambition to help eradicate poverty in the EU by 2050. This first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy sets out a comprehensive approach to prevent and protect against poverty.
- Year
- 2026
The EU and Member States are implementing policies to combat child poverty, also supported by EU funding. A cornerstone policy tool is the European Child Guarantee.
- Year
- 2026
