Europe must act collectively to break the cycle of disadvantage that begins with childhood poverty, Cyprus’ social welfare minister Clea Hadjistephanou Papaellina said on Monday. Without stronger funding and targeted policies, poverty in childhood too often leads to exclusion in adulthood, she warned.
EU governments called for stronger efforts to combat child poverty and improve children’s well-being across the bloc in conclusions adopted by the Council.
The text urges both national authorities and the European Commission to ensure adequate funding for policies aimed at reducing poverty and social exclusion among children.
An economic priority
Ministers say tackling disadvantage early in life is not only a social priority but also an economic one. Childhood poverty can have lasting consequences for education, employment prospects and social mobility later in life. According to estimates cited in recent policy discussions, the long-term effects of childhood disadvantage may cost the EU around 3.4 per cent of GDP each year.
The Council also called for faster progress towards the EU’s poverty reduction target under the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, which aims to reduce the number of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion by five million by 2030. Existing initiatives such as the European Child Guarantee were highlighted as key tools to support vulnerable families.
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Expanded education
Ministers also stressed the importance of expanding early childhood education and care, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
They also pointed to risks facing children online, urging stronger action to ensure safer digital environments and improve digital and media literacy.
The issue is expected to remain high on the agenda during Cyprus’s presidency of the Council, with a high-level conference on child well-being scheduled for May 2026.
