Council Calls for Greater Efforts to Combat Child Poverty

EU Council Sanctions Press Releases

Published March 9th, 2026

Detected March 10th, 2026

Summary

The Council of the EU has adopted conclusions calling for increased support to combat child poverty and enhance child well-being. The conclusions emphasize the economic benefits of investing in children and urge member states and the Commission to ensure adequate funding and targeted policies, aiming for five million fewer children at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 2030.

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What changed

The Council of the EU has issued conclusions urging the Commission and member states to intensify efforts to combat child poverty and improve child well-being. The document highlights the long-term economic costs of child poverty, estimated at 3.4% of GDP annually, and calls for adequate funding for relevant policies. It also references the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan's objective to reduce the number of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion by five million by 2030.

While these conclusions are non-binding, they signal a strategic priority for the EU. Regulated entities, particularly those involved in social services, education, and potentially technology (regarding online safety), should be aware of the increased focus and potential future policy developments or funding opportunities related to child poverty reduction and well-being initiatives. Compliance officers should monitor related Commission communications and national implementation strategies.

What to do next

Monitor Commission communications regarding child poverty and well-being initiatives.
Review national strategies for alignment with EU objectives on child poverty reduction.
Assess potential impacts on services related to early childhood education and care, and online child safety.

Source document (simplified)

Council of the EU
Press release
9 March 2026 10:55

Investing in the EU’s future: Council calls for greater efforts to combat child poverty

The Council is calling on the Commission and EU countries to provide greater support to children, in order to increase their well-being and combat poverty and social exclusion.

In conclusions approved today, the Council draws attention to the potential long-term implications of child poverty, and calls for adequate funding for policies that address child poverty.

Breaking the cycle of disadvantage must be a collective European effort. Poverty in childhood too often leads to exclusion in adulthood, with profound human and economic costs. By ensuring adequate funding and targeted policies, we can give every child a fair start and strengthen our Union for generations to come.

Clea Hadjistephanou Papaellina, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare of the Republic of Cyprus

Boosting the EU’s competitiveness

The Council’s conclusions note that promoting child well-being can strengthen economic resilience. According to Mario Draghi’s report on the future of EU competitiveness, Europe’s long-term prosperity depends, among other things, on fairness and inclusion. Furthermore, the transmission of disadvantage from childhood to adulthood leads to an estimated loss of 3.4% of GDP every year.

Investing in children, the Council argues, is therefore a strategic investment in the EU’s future competitiveness, stability and cohesion. The conclusions call on EU countries and the Commission to ensure adequate funding for projects that address child poverty.

Targets for poverty reduction

The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, published in 2021, sets an EU-level objective whereby five million fewer children should be at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 2030. The conclusions call on EU countries to accelerate progress towards this goal, with support from the Commission. They also highlight other initiatives that can help combat child poverty, including implementing the Council’s recommendations on adequate minimum income and the European Child Guarantee.

Early childhood education and care

The conclusions stress the importance of early childhood education and care in enabling all children to achieve higher socio-economic outcomes. They therefore call on the Commission to continue supporting member states in investing in accessible, inclusive, affordable and high-quality early childhood services, focusing in particular on the most vulnerable children.

Online safety

In addition to poverty, the conclusions also call on the Commission to enhance child well-being by promoting a safe, inclusive and age-appropriate digital environment. In particular, the Commission should emphasise the importance of protecting children from online violence, exploitation, and illegal and harmful content, while also fostering greater digital and media literacy. The Council also notes that harmful online content may affect girls and boys in different ways.

Background

Child well-being is a cross-cutting priority for the EU, as reflected, inter alia, in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the 2022 Council recommendation on early childhood education and care. The well-being of children is a key priority of the Cyprus presidency, in particular tackling poverty and promoting participation in accessible, affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care, in line with the Barcelona targets. A high-level conference dedicated to child well-being is scheduled to take place in Cyprus in May 2026.

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