Poverty remains one of the EU’s most pressing and persistent challenges, affecting over 93 million people and undermining social cohesion across the continent. We asked Krzysztof Balon, rapporteur for the EESC opinion on a European Anti-Poverty Strategy, what the Committee recommends to tackle the root causes of poverty and promote a rights-based, coordinated approach at all levels.

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.

By Cristian Pîrvulescu

One year after the 2024 European elections, the European Union is facing growing tensions between civic mobilisation and an illiberal offensive. On the one hand, high voter turnout in several Member States – including my own country, Romania – confirmed a renewed public interest in Europe’s future. And I will pause briefly to reflect on the Romanian case as an instructive experiment. On the other hand, this mobilisation has taken place in a context of polarisation, disinformation and systemic attacks on democratic values.

The 2024 elections brought historic gains for the far right in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria, forming a significant obstructionist bloc in the European Parliament. What we are witnessing is not only an internal political realignment, but a coordinated illiberal offensive, fuelled by transnational networks and supported by geopolitical actors such as Russia. Identity-based, Eurosceptic and anti-rights narratives are circulating simultaneously across digital platforms, aiming to undermine pluralism, the rule of law and European cohesion.

The nature of conflict has shifted from the military to the informational and psychological sphere. Today’s hybrid warfare uses disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, deepfakes and manipulative algorithms to erode trust in democracy. The targets are clear: young people, minorities, independent media and electoral authorities. At the heart of this assault is a battle over perception – a mental and symbolic siege designed to foster confusion, cynicism and democratic apathy.

Algorithms as agents of radicalisation

Digital platforms – especially TikTok – mechanically amplify polarising content. It is no longer just about human users spreading disinformation, but about algorithmic systems that select, prioritise and normalise extremist rhetoric. This cognitive disorder directly undermines public reason, replacing deliberation with emotional reactions and confirmation bias.

TikTok has become a key tool for political mobilisation among young people, particularly in central and eastern Europe. Recent campaigns in Romania, Portugal, Germany and Poland have used the platform intensively to spread identity-driven, conspiratorial or anti-European messages. Its short, emotionally charged video format makes it an ideal medium for emotional radicalisation, operating beyond the reach of democratic control or effective regulation.

Romania: A case of fragile resilience

In Romania, the 2024-2025 elections saw record voter turnout, especially among young people. This helped defeat extremist candidates. However, this outcome should not be romanticised: democratic resilience manifested itself defensively, under the pressure of media polarisation and toxic disinformation campaigns, especially on TikTok and Telegram. Voting was often driven by rejection – a ‘no’ to populist excesses – rather than by active support for democratic values.

Romania continues to struggle with a severe budget deficit, deep social inequalities, an education system ill-equipped for civic and digital literacy, and a media space dominated by partisan and oligarchic interests. In this context, disinformation networks exploit social frustrations, especially among young people and minorities. Worse still, some political elites display a dangerous ambivalence, tolerating or even instrumentalising illiberal rhetoric for electoral purposes.

Romania offers a clear example of conditional democratic resilience: civic mobilisation can defeat populism, but it cannot replace public policy. Without structural reforms, critical education and effective digital regulation, democracy remains vulnerable. The lesson is clear: the electorate cannot be the only line of defence.

What can Europe do?

Europe can take multiple actions: enforce the Digital Services Act ambitiously, create an independent European information watchdog, invest heavily in civic and media literacy, support independent journalism, promote institutional counter-narratives adapted to younger audiences and include democratic resilience as a core criterion in the evaluation of EU funding.

Europe is not in democratic collapse, but it is traversing a zone of strategic vulnerability. It is subject to a permanent hybrid assault and a crisis of legitimacy, especially among younger generations. To defend democracy, the European Union must renew its tools, rethink the digital public space and actively support those societies on the frontline of this cognitive confrontation. Romania is one such case – not just a national test, but a true barometer of Europe’s democratic future.

In Romania, a record youth turnout in the 2024-2025 elections helped block the rise of extremist candidates. But the vote was largely a defensive act, driven by rejection of populist excesses rather than hopeful support for democratic values. Polarised media, disinformation and unchecked digital platforms continue to undermine democratic confidence, not only in Romania but in the EU in general. Civic mobilisation matters – but without deeper reforms, democracy remains exposed, writes EESC member Cristian Pîrvulescu.

At its June plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) became the first EU body to formally endorse the Declaration of principles for a gender-equal society, backing the European Commission’s Roadmap for Women’s Rights. This move sends a clear signal that urgent, concrete action is needed to close persistent gender gaps.

According to its Global Gender Gap Report, it will take another 134 years to close the gender gap worldwide if progress continues at the current pace. EESC President Oliver Röpke stressed this urgency: ‘We don’t have 134 years to wait for gender equality – and we won’t. The EESC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to closing the gap, standing with our EU and international partners to ensure women’s rights are firmly embedded in every EU policy.’

In a video message, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, thanked the EESC for its leadership, stating: ‘Achieving gender equality takes all of us. It is no longer enough to say that equality is at the heart of our Union. We must defend it.’

Belén Sanz Luque, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, added: ‘Thirty years after the Beijing Platform for Action, social barriers still block gender equality across the world. The EU must lead by example, building stronger solidarity and investing in real progress for women and girls everywhere.’

The European Commission’s Roadmap for Women’s Rights, together with its Declaration of principles for a gender-equal society, sets out concrete principles to advance gender equality and protect women’s rights across the EU: ending gender-based violence, closing the pay gap, ensuring fair working conditions, protecting health, promoting political participation and supporting inclusive education.

To support these goals, the EESC adopted a resolution committing to real action. It pledges to work with civil society and young people, address overlapping discrimination, defend key rights such as access to reproductive health and care systems, and push for inclusive policies backed by data. The EESC will now work closely with EU institutions and Member States to turn these principles into real progress. (gb)

In significant recognition of youth participation in EU policymaking, the European Parliament (EP) has officially commended the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the EESC Youth Test in the 2023 discharge report.

The EESC Youth Test is designed to ensure that the voices and perspectives of young people are systematically considered when the EESC draws up its opinions. It represents a forward-thinking model for inclusive governance and is already influencing how institutions approach youth participation. The European Commission has based its Youth Check on the EESC’s model and the Parliament has requested multiple meetings with the EESC as they begin to plan its version of the tool.

In the 2022 discharge, the European Parliament had already 'welcomed the efforts made by the Committee to enhance youth involvement in policymaking'. However, the 2023 discharge goes a step further. In addition to the Youth Test, it explicitly commends the EESC on its proactive and innovative approach to youth participation. This is thanks to the work of the EESC Youth Group, launched in 2023, and initiatives by EESC sections such as the youth delegate to COP and the Youth Climate and Sustainability Roundtables.

This commendation by the European Parliament not only validates the EESC’s work but also sets a precedent for other EU institutions to follow suit in integrating youth perspectives into the heart of EU policymaking. (epv)