The European Union needs to act now as one in five Europeans is at risk of poverty or social exclusion and one in four children face the same situation, said on Thursday Permanent Secretary of Social Welfare Yiannis Nicolaides at the 24th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty held in Pervolia of Larnaca district.
The meeting, entitled ‘The Politics of Anti-Poverty: Participation, Power and Inclusion – From Lived Realities to Shared Priorities and From Priorities to Advocacy and Action’, is being held as the first EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, which attempts to reach the optimistic target, based on three priorities, quality jobs for all, effective access to quality services and adequate income support, and coordinated action against poverty, was adopted by the European Commission last month, during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Addressing the meeting, Nicolaides said ‘a clear message is sent, that the European Union, needs to act now! Numbers speak for themselves! One in five Europeans is at risk of poverty or social exclusion and one in four children is at the same situation’.
Noting the Cyprus Presidency is placing high on the EU Political Agenda the first ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, Nicolaides said the momentum created by the new Social Package, including the first European Anti-Poverty Strategy, the Housing Initiative, the reinforcement of the European Child Guarantee and the strengthening of the Disability Strategy, all happened during Cyprus Presidency, provides us with a strong framework for action to strengthen the European Social Model in the effort to achieve the goal.
According to Nicolaides, the reality is that, despite all the positives, there is still a long way to go. ‘It is now up to all of us to turn the commitments and tools into tangible and lasting results, especially for children across Europe’ as indeed, now is the time to consider, how we move from Strategy to Reality, then to Positioning and to Action.
‘We must collectively and decisively continue our efforts to ensure a better future for all. A Europe that leaves no one-behind, ensuring social protection and social inclusion, easier access to social services, activation of people excluded by the labor market and living in dignity,” he said.
He emphasized that investing in eradicating poverty, especially for children, is not an obligation, but a necessary strategic investment for the future of Europe, which must be bravely supported.
In her welcoming speech, Eleni Karaoli, President of The National Anti-Poverty Network Cyprus (EAPN Cyprus) and vice President of the European Anti-Poverty Network, remarked that the meeting comes at a moment of renewed attention in Europe to the deep inequalities that undermine social cohesion and human dignity.
She recalled the founding principles of the European project that guide their, work, respect for human dignity, equality, solidarity, and the commitment to peace and prosperity through cooperation among states and peoples, noting these ‘principles are not abstract ideals. They carry obligations’.
In her address, Karaoli reminded that the Cyprus Presidency of the Council in 2026 sets priorities that resonate strongly with our objectives: competitiveness that is inclusive, sustainability, social cohesion, and strengthening the social dimension of the Union.
Referring to the EU’s first European Anti-Poverty Strategy she said it is not just a policy document; it is a signal of intent. It represents a continental recognition that poverty and exclusion are unacceptable and solvable through coordinated action. But strategy is only as good as its implementation. For us, the Strategy must mean concrete national plans that set clear targets, allocate adequate funding, and include robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
Karaoli called for national anti-poverty strategies that are co-created with people who have lived experience of poverty. These strategies should be backed by measurable targets – reductions in deep poverty, child poverty, homelessness, and severe material deprivation – and by timelines and budgets that make those targets achievable. She also proposed mechanisms for independent oversight and for complaints. However, to make this real, she added, it requires political courage and administrative capacity at national level. ‘When we lift people out of poverty, we strengthen economies, reduce social costs, and build resilient communities’, said Karaoli.
She urged all partners present – national authorities, EU institutions, civil society, and people with lived experience – ‘to seize this opportunity. Use the Cyprus Presidency’s momentum, shape the first European Anti-Poverty Strategy into a transformative tool, and commit to a model of governance where cooperation is not a slogan but a practice: co-design, co-deliver, co-assess’.