The European Commission has launched an extensive social package that aims to drastically reduce poverty, combat social exclusion and strengthen the rights of vulnerable people throughout the European Union, where the percentage of those affected is 20.9%, and in Romania 27.4%. The plan includes the first European strategy dedicated to combating poverty, measures to prevent housing exclusion, extending the European Child Guarantee and strengthening the rights of people with disabilities by 2030.
Europe promises to eradicate poverty by 2050. File photo
The initiative comes in an increasingly tense social context. According to European data, over 20% of EU citizens are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, and one in four children lives in this situation. The rising cost of living has become the main concern for more than half of Europeans, while access to affordable housing and social services is becoming increasingly difficult.
Romania, among the most affected countries in the EU
Romania continues to be among the most affected EU member states in terms of poverty and social exclusion. The latest Eurostat data show that Romania remains one of the poorest countries in the European Union.
In 2025, approximately 27.4% of Romanians were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, Romania being surpassed only by Bulgaria and Greece in the European ranking. The EU average is around 20.9%.
The situation of children is even worse. Almost 33.8% of children in Romania are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, one of the highest values in the European Union. In other words, one in three children grows up in conditions of economic vulnerability, with limited access to education, health services or decent living conditions.
In addition, Romania has the highest share in the EU of people affected by severe material and social deprivation. Approximately 17% of Romanians cannot afford expenses considered essential, such as heating the home, paying utilities, an adequate diet or replacing some basic goods.
The differences between the regions are very large. While the Bucharest-Ilfov area approaches the standard of living in Western Europe and has one of the lowest poverty rates in the EU, many rural regions in the south and east of the country remain heavily affected by poverty, unemployment and lack of investment.
In rural areas, access to medical services, education and basic infrastructure is still limited. There are localities without water and sanitation networks, and school dropout remains high, especially in vulnerable communities. Many children drop out of school due to poverty, lack of transportation, or to contribute to the family income.
Although Romania's economy has grown in recent years, the benefits of development have not been evenly distributed. Inflation and the rising cost of living have hit low-income families, pensioners and vulnerable people hard, and social gaps remain among the biggest in the European Union.
The Commission promises to eradicate poverty by 2050
The strategy presented by the Commission sets the objective of reducing by at least 15 million the number of people at risk of poverty by 2030 and contributing to the eradication of poverty by 2050. The document emphasizes three main directions: the creation of quality jobs, better access to public services and adequate financial support for vulnerable people.
A central point of the plan is the fight against child poverty. Brussels wants to strengthen the European Child Guarantee so that vulnerable children have free access to early education, health services, school meals and social support. The Commission also proposes the introduction of a European Card for children, which would facilitate quick access to essential services.
Housing is another major priority. Across Europe, house prices have risen by around 60% since 2013, and millions of people are struggling to pay their rent or installments. Around one million Europeans are homeless. In Romania, although the ownership rate is high, many families live in overcrowded or inadequate housing, and access to social housing is low.
The social package also includes measures dedicated to people with disabilities. In the EU, over 90 million people live with some form of disability, but the employment rate is much lower compared to the rest of the population. The Commission proposes expanding the European Disability Card, developing community services and investing in assistive technologies, including tools based on artificial intelligence.
President Ursula von der Leyen said that poverty and social exclusion “they can and must be overcome”, and Europe must offer dignity, opportunity and equality to all its citizens.
However, for countries like Romania, where social gaps remain very large, the success of the European strategy will depend to a large extent on the ability of the national authorities to transform these objectives into concrete and effective policies.
