Social protection systems are crucial components of any public policy strategy aiming to eradicate poverty. By treating them as investments rather than costs, as is currently the case in the EU, they can provide safety nets for those living in poverty, support active inclusion policies, and contribute to access to fundamental rights such as education and healthcare.
This year, EAPN Poverty Watch is focusing on a systemic approach to social protection. It is a continuation of the 2023 Poverty Watch report, “Towards a sustainable social welfare for the people”, which explored funding avenues for the resilience and strengthening of social protection systems. In 2024, EAPN and its members’ reflections focus on how to boost the impact of social protection policies—and, more broadly, the fight against poverty—through a coherent, integrated, and systems-based approach, as opposed to public policies that treat social protection systems primarily as a cost and burden.
This Poverty Watch is based on the findings of 19 national reports drafted by our national members. We hope it will help inform upcoming key initiatives at the EU level, such as the first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and the renewal of the EU Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. Because eradicating poverty requires much more than isolated policy measures. It is a global fight that demands a structural shift in the way we approach social rights and human dignity.
