European Parliament Plans to End Poverty in EU by 2035

On Thursday, Parliament called for increased funding and coordination to fight poverty and social exclusion in the EU.

• Poverty is a violation of human dignity, MPs say

• The main focus should be on the fight against child poverty, which affects one in four children in Europe

• Employment and affordable housing and public services are essential to poverty reduction

MEPs want the Commission to recognize poverty as a violation of human dignity in its upcoming anti-poverty strategy and want it to work urgently to end poverty by 2035 at the latest. In the independent report, adopted by 385 votes to 141 with 53 abstentions, they also call for adequate budgetary resources for anti-poverty measures in the EU’s long-term budget and proper coordination between the EU and its member states.

Child poverty

Considering the fact that the number of children at risk of poverty is increasing, the Parliament demands more support from EU countries European Guarantees for children implementation to ensure that all children in need have access to free healthcare, education, care and healthy nutrition. To this end, MPs call for a special budget of at least 20 billion euros for the European Guarantee for Children. Member States should allocate at least 5% of the European Social Fund+ funds to specific projects to combat child poverty, and at least 10% should be allocated to countries where the level of child poverty and social exclusion exceeds the EU average.

Combating poverty through employment

Full employment and social protection should be standard goals in economic and social policy, MEPs say, and the Commission and EU countries should promote policies to protect labor rights and fair pay, including equal pay for equal work. To end working poverty, they call for better access to childcare services and tailored career guidance.

Universal access to public services

The Commission and Member States should increase public investment in areas that ensure universal access to housing, food, water, sanitation, energy and transport, MEPs say. This could help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and promote social inclusion.

Parliament wants an action plan to end homelessness across the EU by 2030, with specific measures targeting children and families, workers who have lost their jobs and women.

Finally, the report calls for measures to promote the political participation of people living in poverty, so that they are involved in decision-making, as well as in the implementation and evaluation of policies that affect them.

Quote

Reporter Žuau Oliveira (Left, Portugal) said: “The anti-poverty strategy must be ambitious. It must address the structural causes of poverty, promote a fairer distribution of wealth, improve working conditions, ensure stable investment in public services and guarantee access to decent housing for all. To achieve this, the active participation of people affected by poverty in policy-making, as well as a proper budget, are essential.”

General information

According to According to the data of the European Commission In 2024, 93.3 million people in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including 20 million children, a quarter of the EU’s children. In 2021, the Parliament invited to develop comprehensive EU anti-poverty strategy with ambitious goals to reduce poverty and end extreme poverty in Europe by 2030.

According to the 2021 European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan The EU committed to reducing the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030, including at least five million children. In line with its commitment to fight poverty and support social inclusion, the Commission is currently preparing the EU’s first anti-poverty strategy; it is expected to happen in 2026.