ABOUT THE 2024 PEOPLE’S SUMMIT
On 18th July 2024, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of the first-ever Anti-Poverty Strategy of the EU during the mandate 2024-2029. Whereas the scope and level of ambition of the proposal was not known yet at the time of the People’s Summit, this announcement was already very much welcomed by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN).
At the same time, the European Commission also committed to renew the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the Gender Equality, LGBTIQ Equality and the Anti-Racism Strategies. It also committed to launching new initiatives such as the Quality Jobs Roadmap, a Pact for European Social Dialogue and a European Affordable Housing Plan. These announcements are taking place in a challenging policy and political context, marked by a strong focus put by the new European Commission on security, defense and competitiveness to the detriment of fundamental rights and the surge of the far right at the European Parliament and Council of the EU.
EAPN has been advocating for an EU Anti-Poverty Strategy since its creation in 1990. However, President Von der Leyen’s announcement is therefore also raises a crucial question: How to ensure the upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy effectively eradicates poverty and social exclusion?
The 2024 People’s Summit is one of the main deliverables of EAPN advocacy strategy towards an EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, which was kicked off in October 2024 with the launch of our Roadmap outlining our process proposal for an effective strategy.
