EESC President

Statement by Séamus Boland, EESC President

Having experienced poverty at a young age myself, it is with some emotion that now, as President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), I call on everyone to join in the commemorations of the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

With one in five people and one in four children in the EU currently living at risk of poverty and social exclusion, this discussion is clearly centred on human dignity and rights.

However, it is also evident that poverty eradication is no longer an issue to be relegated to marginal discussions. It is a highly political topic that is already taking its toll on our democracies, societies and economies.

The 2026 theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, “Safe Homes for All”, focuses on housing security, which goes to the heart of this political dimension and resonates across European communities, regions and countries.

But I would like to take the debate further: poverty eradication is also very much about European security and resilience. Equality and security must be fundamental rights for everyone in the EU. Similarly, societal resilience and social investment are integral dimensions of our European security.

What is certain is that only collective responses by all of society will be effective, and I very much welcome the inclusive approach of this year's EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.

This means involving not only local, national and European administrations, but, crucially, also people experiencing poverty themselves, local communities, the social partners, philanthropic organisations, the social economy and wider civil society organisations. All must work together to fight the scourge of child and intergenerational poverty in particular.

Join us online on 22 October to debate 'Eradicating Poverty by 2050: fulfilling our collective responsibility', at our annual high-level debate during the plenary session of the EESC.