The European Commission presents a social plan.

On May 6, the European Commission presented a social plan aimed at combating poverty and strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities. The plan includes the communication on the first EU anti-poverty strategy, a proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion, and two communications on child poverty and the rights of persons with disabilities.

Goals

In 2021, the European Union adopted the Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights, setting ambitious social and economic policy goals. In addition to the long-term fight against poverty, the plan particularly aimed to address the social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of its three main targets is to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty by 15 million by 2030, including at least five million children.

EU strategy to combat poverty

The EU anti-poverty strategy is intended to provide a roadmap for achieving these objectives. So far, little progress has been made, particularly in combating child poverty. Building on the European Child Guarantee, the Commission therefore recommends that governments improve families’ access to quality employment, childcare, and strong social safety nets.

Affordable housing is also considered a key prerequisite not only for tackling child poverty, but poverty in general. As housing costs have risen sharply in recent years and account for a large share of living expenses, the issue has increasingly come into focus as an instrument for poverty reduction. Against this background, the Commission recommends, among other measures, the expansion of social housing. The proposed Council recommendation is regarded as a first step toward implementing the first European Affordable Housing Plan of December 2025.

Another key focus is support for persons with disabilities. In this area, the Commission complements national measures through the introduction of the European Disability Card and Parking Card. In addition, improved access to transport services is to be promoted, and barriers to investment in assistive technologies are to be reduced.

Old-age poverty

Poverty is to be tackled at every stage of life, with a significant share of the risk of poverty relating to old-age poverty. Therefore, the Commission and the Social Protection Committee (SPC) plan to further strengthen the analytical and policy framework for combating old-age poverty in 2027. In addition to publishing a Joint Report on Adequate Social Protection in Old Age, which is intended to identify gaps in pension adequacy and long-term care coverage across Member States, a separate report by the European Social Policy Analysis Network (ESPAN) is planned for the first time. This report will document and assess the measures taken by Member States to combat old-age poverty. Previously, this analysis was carried out within the framework of the joint report by the Commission and the SPC. Both publications are intended to help governments address old-age poverty and will serve as the basis for a planned high-level exchange between the Commission, Member States, social partners, experts, and other stakeholders.

Outlook and assessment

The Member States are expected to discuss a possible Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion in the near future. Beyond that, no far-reaching measures from either the Member States or the European institutions are expected for the time being, as the proposals mainly consist of non-binding recommendations. This was also criticized by Bart Vanhercke, Director of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) research department, during a conference on poverty reduction on May 19.

In 2027, the reporting on the adequacy and financial sustainability of pension systems is expected to place a strong focus on the prevention of old-age poverty. As a result, the shared objective of maintaining living standards in old age may potentially move into the background.