Recent progress in reducing poverty in Cyprus reflects a broader shift in social policy across the European Union (EU). The EU is developing its first comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy. The European Commission and the European Parliament support the initiative as a framework to address structural poverty across member states, including Cyprus.

A New European Framework To Tackle Poverty

In 2025–26, the European Commission began drafting the EU’s first Anti-Poverty Strategy. It launched a public consultation to guide the policy. The initiative aims to “provide essential protection to people [who] need it the most and tackle the root causes” of poverty.

The strategy forms part of a wider social investment agenda based on the European Pillar of Social Rights. The EU has set a target to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030, including five million children. Cyprus has supported this agenda at the EU level. 

The government has advocated coordinated policies on child poverty, access to services and social inclusion. These priorities align with domestic policies such as free school meals and education support for vulnerable children.

Has the EU Strategy Been Effective?

The EU has not yet finalized the Anti-Poverty Strategy. Implementation will begin after formal adoption. However, recent EU data shows gradual progress in reducing poverty risks. A European Parliament briefing reports that the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion declined slightly from 95.3 million in 2022 to 94.6 million in 2023. 

Despite this progress, poverty still affects about 21% of the EU’s population; children remain especially vulnerable. In 2024, about 24.2% of children in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This trend highlights the need for targeted policies such as the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and the European Child Guarantee.

Civil society groups support the strategy’s direction. Many organizations are urging EU institutions to secure strong funding and ensure clear, enforceable implementation. They also call for policies that address housing, education, health care and social exclusion alongside income support.

Advocates stress that poverty policy must tackle structural drivers, not just provide short-term relief. This approach aligns with The Borgen Project’s emphasis on long-term poverty reduction.

Poverty in Cyprus

For Cyprus, the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy provides policy coordination and financial support that strengthen national programs. Cyprus has already reduced child poverty rates, including a decline from 16.7% in 2023 to 14.8% in 2024. The country has also expanded school meal programs and education support initiatives.

These policies align with EU priorities that emphasize early intervention and access to essential services. The European Child Guarantee strengthens this approach by ensuring that children in need have access to health care, education and adequate nutrition. The EU strategy also reframes poverty as a structural challenge rather than only a lack of income. 

It promotes policies that support social protection, quality employment and access to essential services. Cyprus has increasingly adopted this approach through ongoing social policy reforms that prioritize long-term social investment.

Looking Forward

The EU has committed to eradicating poverty by 2050, placing long-term structural reform at the center of its social policy agenda. The strategy’s success will depend on sustained funding, effective implementation and strong coordination among member states. The initiative signals a clear shift in EU policy. 

European institutions are advancing poverty reduction through coordinated strategies that prioritize inclusion, dignity and structural change. Cyprus appears increasingly aligned with this direction as it continues to expand its social investment policies.

– Demetra Mykoniatis

Demetra is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

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