Highlights

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The EU has pledged to lift at least 20 million people out of poverty over the next ten years. As a contribution towards achieving this target, on 7 March the Council adopted conclusions backing the Commission's proposal to create a platform against poverty and social exclusion.

"In the context of the fight against poverty, it is a top priority for us to ensure that poverty is not transferred, handed over between generations. We must take efficient steps against child poverty, and we must also act against the poverty of older people", said Sandor Czomba, Hungarian Minister of State for Employment Policy, at the press conference.

This platform provides a framework for the development of national strategies and for policy coordination between the member states and with the EU. It proposes a series of actions to tackle poverty by encouraging and developing more effective and innovative methods and instruments.

Certain groups of the population are particularly vulnerable, such as the unemployed, young people entering the job market, single parents, the elderly, migrants, disabled persons and certain ethnic minorities, among them the Roma.

The implementation of the initiative does not necessarily require more spending, but a better use of funds. Efforts and instruments must be combined at EU and national levels, with a particular focus on groups most at risk of social exclusion. Emphasis should be put on areas which are likely to have the most decisive impact. The structural funds should support social inclusion and social innovation.

Poverty is a widespread phenomenon in the EU, affecting 8 % of Europeans who cannot afford the basics. More than 80 million people - 16% of the population, and 19% of the children - are currently at risk of poverty. The crisis has hit the most vulnerable hardest.

More information:
Conclusions (pdf)
Public debate
Press conference webcast