By Krzysztof Balon

Eradicating poverty enables people to live in dignity and is therefore at the heart of the EU’s values, while also serving as a prerequisite for stable democracy. However, statistical data show that poverty remains at an unacceptably high level: in 2024, an estimated 93.3 million people, or 21% of the EU-27 population, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

Although the total number of people affected has dropped by 1.1 million since 2020, the poverty rate has declined by just 1%. At this pace — around 283 000 people lifted out of poverty each year — the EU will fall more than eight million short of its own 2030 target to reduce poverty by at least 15 million people. The statistics further highlight a gender gap: in 2024, 22% of women were at risk of poverty or exclusion, compared to 20% of men. Children remain Europe’s most vulnerable group, while older adults continue to face a persistent poverty risk. Persons with disabilities experience disproportionate poverty and exclusion, and the ongoing housing crisis is a major driver of both poverty and public anxiety. Last but not least, employment is no longer a reliable safeguard, as the quality of work now plays a critical role in determining poverty risk. All of this underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive, rights-based EU Anti-Poverty Strategy (APS).

Consequently, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for the urgent adoption and implementation of the first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, alongside effective enforcement of the relevant principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The EESC believes that the APS should be based on a multidimensional definition of poverty, taking into account not only material deprivation but also social, psychological, political and gender-related aspects. The strategy should recognise poverty as both a violation of fundamental rights and a form of systemic injustice, aiming to eradicate extreme poverty while establishing ambitious, measurable targets — such as reducing poverty by 50% by 2030.

Key elements of the APS should include:

• Binding standards for adequate income and social protection across Member States;
• Fighting in-work poverty through social dialogue, including the effective implementation of the Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages;
• Universal access to affordable, high-quality public services such as healthcare, social work, housing and education and support for life-long learning;
• Support for the development of the social economy;
• Involving people experiencing poverty in all stages of the strategy cycle, as well as providing sustainable funding for civil society organisations to advocate on their behalf.

While the primary responsibility for fighting poverty lies with the Member States, the implementation of the APS should also be supported at European level, aligning with the goal of eradicating extreme poverty. A dedicated EU Coordinator should be appointed to unite the efforts of the EU, Member States and civil society in this mission. The EESC, for its part, will remain actively engaged in promoting these efforts in the future.