European Commission adopts first ever EU anti-poverty strategy
The European Commission has presented the EU anti-poverty strategy, setting out a comprehensive approach to prevent and protect against poverty. The strategy addresses the need to guarantee access to services for those in need in rural areas.
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The strategy provides a path to reach the EU’s 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.
It focuses on quality jobs, access to services and income support, and more coordinated action, with these core priorities:
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Addressing poverty across people’s lives: strengthening the European Child Guarantee to ensure children in need have effective access to key services such as education, healthcare, healthy nutrition and housing; consulting social partners on a legislative initiative to support activation of people excluded from the labour market; new guidance to address in-work poverty; and supporting older people through adequate pensions and opportunities to stay in work.
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Tackling drivers of poverty: fighting housing exclusion through the proposed Council recommendation; ensuring easier access to social services; and tackling discrimination and stigma around poverty.
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Joining efforts to combat poverty: setting out principles for effective anti-poverty policies across the EU; appointing national anti-poverty coordinators; consulting people who are experiencing poverty on policies that affect them; and establishing a coalition against poverty with national, regional and local governments, businesses and civil society.
The strategy acknowledges the importance of improving access to services to foster better quality of life, as well as availability and accessibility of opportunities. It emphasises the challenge of reducing territorial divides and ensuring access to services across all areas, including rural and outermost regions, an issue that will be further addressed in the upcoming strategy on the ‘right to stay’.
Additionally, the strategy stresses that special attention should be given to access to long-term care services by the most vulnerable, especially in rural areas, which face greater challenges with population ageing.
Explore the latest Rural Pact resources on access to services, employment and social inclusion.