EU's Bold Anti-Poverty Strategy Aims to End Poverty by 2050—But Will It Work?
The European Commission has launched its first-ever Anti-Poverty Strategy, aiming to eliminate poverty across the EU by 2050. The plan introduces new measures to tackle homelessness, streamline welfare access, and strengthen support for vulnerable families.
Despite these efforts, the EU remains off track to meet its earlier target of lifting 15 million people out of poverty by 2030. Current figures show 92.7 million at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with nearly one million experiencing homelessness. The strategy focuses on three key areas: preventing homelessness, simplifying access to social benefits, and expanding child welfare programmes. National governments are urged to increase social housing, reinforce eviction protections, and cut red tape for welfare claims.
A central part of the package is an upgraded European Child Guarantee. This ensures better access to childcare, education, mental healthcare, and free school meals for low-income families.
However, the plan does not address immigration policies, which contribute to poverty risks. Non-EU citizens living in the EU face the highest poverty rates, with 43.8% at risk in 2024. Last year, member states issued 3.5 million first-residence permits, mostly to Spain, Germany, Poland, Italy, and France.
Critics note that without policy changes on migration, the cycle of poverty among non-EU residents may persist. The Commission’s long-term goal relies heavily on member states implementing housing and welfare reforms effectively. The Anti-Poverty Strategy sets ambitious targets but leaves existing immigration policies unchanged. Success depends on whether countries expand social housing, simplify benefit systems, and enforce eviction protections. Without these steps, the EU’s goal of ending poverty by 2050 could remain out of reach.
