The European Commission intends to develop an EU anti-poverty strategy, to be presented in 2026, and is calling on citizens, experts and organisations to contribute to it through a public consultation that opens today. The strategy, a statement from the Commission reads, “aims to provide essential protection to people that need it the most and tackle the root causes of poverty”. It is also meant to be an instrument for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with the goal of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty by at least 15 million by 2030. The public consultation can be accessed on the portal “Have your say” until 24 October 2025. The Commission also announced other targeted public consultations in the coming months. “Today, in the EU, one in five adults, and one in four children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion”, said Vice-President for Social Rights Roxana Mînzatu. “This is simply not acceptable. We need bold and decisive actions”, she added, “to break the cycle of poverty and build a more prosperous, inclusive future for all”. Inviting citizens, NGOs, and all stakeholders to take part in this consultation, she explained, “will help us shape a strategy that truly responds to the realities and challenges people face”.