The European Commission today presented an ambitious social plan aimed at combating poverty in the EU, as one in two European citizens cites the cost of living as their main concern. It also announced that it will strengthen its strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities.

EU citizens are facing three urgent challenges: the housing crisis, with 40% of citizens identifying the lack of affordable housing as an immediate and pressing problem; barriers to participation in a rapidly changing labour market; and the risk of poverty, which affects 1 in 5 Europeans and 1 in 4 children.

The EU strategy sets a clear path to reduce by at least 15 million the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 2030 and to contribute to its eradication by 2050. It is based on three pillars: strengthening quality jobs as the main route out of poverty, ensuring effective access to quality services and adequate income support, and improving coordination between member states, institutions and social partners for more targeted interventions.

At the same time, a set of actions is planned to “break the cycle” of poverty across all ages, including possible new initiatives to integrate people outside the labour market and measures to support older people through adequate pensions.

Particular emphasis is placed on tackling child poverty, which remains at high levels in the EU without significant reduction in recent years. In this context, the European Child Guarantee is being strengthened, aiming to ensure free and meaningful access to basic services such as preschool education, healthcare and school meals. Measures are also promoted to support families, such as facilitating parents’ access to quality employment, childcare services and strong social safety nets.

The strategy also includes new interventions to strengthen children’s mental health and their access to mentoring and inclusion programmes, while a pilot European card for children in need is foreseen to facilitate access to services.

Special importance is also given to the housing crisis, as housing prices have increased on average by 60% in the EU since 2013, while Europeans face growing barriers to accessing adequate housing. Since the Commission is not proposing directly binding measures in this area, it calls on member states to adopt policies to prevent housing exclusion and support affordable housing, within the framework of a related Council recommendation pending approval. The approach focuses on strengthening social housing and providing comprehensive support, aiming for citizens to obtain stable and decent housing, while also promoting long-term solutions to prevent homelessness, which has reached 1 million people in the EU.

At the same time, the Commission announced it will strengthen its strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities, with 90 million people—more than 1 in 5 Europeans—living with a disability. The Commission notes that barriers to inclusion persist: only 55% are employed compared to 77% of people without disabilities; 1.4 million people with disabilities still live in institutions; and 1 in 3 is at risk of poverty—almost double the EU average. Proposed actions include the development of a European Disability Card and parking card across the EU, the launch of an “alliance for independent living” aimed at replacing institutions with community-based support, improved transport accessibility, and investment in assistive technologies such as artificial intelligence tools.

The Vice-President of the Commission, Roxana Mînzatu, responsible for social rights and quality jobs, said:
“Europe has always been defined not only by its economic strength, but also by its social model and solidarity. In the coming years, these values will be tested, and our response will shape not only our economies but also citizens’ trust in Europe. That is why the EU strategy to combat poverty, the first of its kind, is vital for our future: with strong policies and implementation across all member states, it must help prevent poverty and accelerate action for those already affected.”