Statement by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu ahead of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Poverty must not define anyone's future.

Too many people across Europe are still unable to afford a home, heating, food, healthcare or education. Currently, one in five Europeans is at risk of poverty and social exclusion, among them 19.3 million children, while more than 1.4 million people are homeless or do not have secure housing.

This is unacceptable and we all have a duty to act against poverty and exclusion.

Earlier this year, we adopted the first ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy,  to accelerate progress towards the EU 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 and helping eradicate it by 2050. Five months on, the implementation of the Strategy is already well under way.

The Council is expected to soon approve the Commission's proposal for a recommendation on fighting housing exclusion, the first EU legal act on homelessness and a decisive step in helping people facing one of the harshest forms of poverty.

For those who can work, the best way out of poverty is quality jobs. Those in poverty are often those who need the most support to enter the labour market. Support to activation is not only key to address poverty, it is also a matter of competitiveness and untapped talent – our economy cannot afford leaving  almost 50 million people outside the labour market. That is why, together with the Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights, we launched in July the first-stage consultation of European social partners to obtain their views on possible EU action to support those facing significant barriers to the labour market.

The European Social Fund Plus and future National and Regional Partnership Plans stand ready to support Member States in making investments and structural reforms needed to carry out the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.