The EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, published by the European Commission on 6 May 2026 alongside a Communication “Enhancing the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities up to 2030“, acknowledges that 29% of persons with disabilities are at risk of poverty and social exclusion across the EU.
The Anti-Poverty Strategy recognises that prejudice and stigma limit their access to employment, education, housing and care-related services, and announces a strengthened Disability Employment Package to address the specific barriers persons with disabilities face in entering the labour market.
Social Platform calls for employment policies to guarantee inclusive access to quality jobs for all persons with disabilities, for Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) to be scaled up as a key pathway to decent work, and for the Quality Jobs Roadmap to actively foster their employment.
While the Disability Employment Package is a step in the right direction, concerns remain among our member organisations that the Anti-Poverty Strategy’s strong focus on labour market integration risks overshadowing the equally urgent need for adequate income support and universal access to services — leaving those furthest from the labour market insufficiently addressed.
Find out more about this issue and the expertise of our network below:
EASPD’s initial assessment of the Strategy, identifying its strengths while pointing to areas where further action is needed, particularly on funding, social services, workforce development, and implementation.
EASPD’s initial assessment of the Strategy, identifying its strengths while pointing to areas where further action is needed, particularly on funding, social services, workforce development, and implementation.
The EU Alliance for Investing in Children, which Mental Health Europe is a member of, welcomes the European Commission’s 2026 Social Package as an important step towards strengthening Europe’s social dimension and reaffirming the EU’s commitment to children’s rights, social inclusion and equal opportunities for all children.
EU anti-poverty strategy analysis
Explore Social Platform’s analysis and reaction to the anti-poverty strategy as a whole on our main overview page.
