Fighting poverty and improving the lives of persons with disabilities

The European Commission unveiled an ambitious social plan aimed at helping to eradicate poverty and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities across the EU on 6th May 2026. The package includes the first-ever EU anti-poverty strategy – the Commission’s plan to help end poverty in the EU by 2050; a proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion; and two communications: one on breaking the cycle of child poverty – strengthening the European Child Guarantee – and one on reinforcing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030.

With 52% of Europeans citing the cost of living as their top concern, the EU is tackling three urgent challenges: a housing crisis (lack of affordable housing is seen as an immediate and urgent problem by 40% of citizens, and 1 million are homeless); barriers to participation to a rapidly changing labour market; and poverty, affecting 1 in 5 Europeans – and 1 in 4 children.

Find out more on the European Commission's Press Corner.