Newsroom
Around a quarter of children living in the European Union, close to 20 million across its 27 member states, are currently exposed to the risk of poverty or social exclusion, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Papaellina said on Monday in Brussels.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), which she is chairing as part of Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the EU, Papaellina highlighted the urgency of tackling child poverty across the bloc.
She explained that the Council’s discussions will concentrate on ways to reduce poverty and improve the wellbeing of children throughout the EU. According to her, the issue comes at a crucial moment because the EU’s first comprehensive strategy dedicated to fighting poverty is expected to be introduced during the Cypriot presidency.
Papaellina stressed that deprivation during childhood can have serious and lasting effects on people’s lives. Early hardship, she noted, restricts opportunities, deepens social inequality and increases the likelihood that poverty will persist across generations. For that reason, she argued, governments must adopt stronger preventive policies and targeted interventions.
She added that protecting children and reducing child poverty are central priorities for the current EU presidency held by Cyprus. The scale of the problem, she said, makes coordinated European action essential.
Alongside the discussion on child poverty, ministers are also expected to review the upcoming Gender Equality Strategy for 2026-2030, a topic that coincides with the observance of International Women’s Day.
The Council meeting will also examine the EU’s Strategy to Combat Racism for 2026-2030, another key policy initiative on the agenda during the session chaired by Papaellina.
