Health must be at the heart of the EU’s Anti-Poverty Strategy
With over 20% of Europeans at risk of poverty and social exclusion, EuroHealthNet calls for health to be the foundation of the European Union’s (EU) new Anti-Poverty Strategy. Without addressing health inequalities, the European Commission’s 2050 eradication of poverty commitment remains out of reach.
The bigger picture: competitiveness and the single market
As EU Leaders meet informally this week to discuss economic competitiveness, the single market, and simplifying the regulatory framework for businesses, 1 in 5 Europeans are still at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This reality continues despite the EU’s ambitious commitment to reduce those at risk by at least 15 million, including 5 million children, by 2030. We urge that the poverty eradication commitment will remain unachievable unless health is placed at the heart of the European agenda.
The economic impact
Economic prosperity and resilience cannot exist in a vacuum. A thriving economy requires a healthy population, and health inequalities come at a high economic cost. Welfare losses due to health inequalities drain the Union’s resources at a staggering rate. These welfare losses were estimated 9.4% of GDP per year (roughly €980 billion) — a sum that rivals the entire annual GDP of a nation such as the Netherlands and may be even higher today.
''Poor health and poverty are interlinked. We cannot hope to end one without addressing the other. Health is rooted in the security of a warm home, financial stability, and a fair start in life”, says EuroHealthNet’s Director, Caroline Costongs.
"We are calling on Ministers to recognise that we won't end poverty in Europe until we address the obstacles many people face in living a healthy life."
“If President von der Leyen’s commitment to eradicate poverty is more than just an aspiration, this Anti-Poverty Strategy must prioritise tackling health inequalities now''
The policy plan
Against this economic backdrop, the Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs are meeting at the informal EPSCO Council this week to discuss the upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy. The stakes are clear. If the EU wants to eradicate poverty by 2050, the Strategy needs to place public health front and centre. To address the root causes of poverty, we call for the Strategy to:
- Recognise health is a fundamental human right: embed health as a core enabling factor for a well-functioning society.
- Address health inequalities and their key drivers: target the underlying health and social factors that lead to poor health outcomes.
- Secure EU funds: the next Multi Financial Framework (MFF) must prioritise actions to address health inequalities and the root causes of poverty.
- Stronger social objectives in the European Semester: ensure the Semester fully supports the Anti-Poverty Strategy, fostering social and health investment.
Conclusion
Social and health inequalities don’t just negatively impact people’s lives; they create a barrier to Europe’s competitive edge and undermine the core values the EU was built upon. By placing health at the heart of the Anti-Poverty Strategy, the EU doesn’t just acknowledge the link between people’s wellbeing and economic prosperity, it effectively builds a fairer, more inclusive and equitable Union for all.
- European Commission’s 2050 eradication of poverty commitment
- 1 in 5 people experiencing poverty and social exclusion in the EU
- Note on GDP data: The figures cited from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21172799/ reflect calculations made prior to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (31 January 2020) and do not account for post-Brexit trade adjustments.
Related resources
EuroHealthNet’s vision to eradicate poverty by 2050 - Policy brief
The European Semester and its health and social dimensions - 2025 European Semester analysis
Social inequalities in health in the EU - Are countries closing the gap?
