FEBA welcomes the publication of the first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, which rightly recognises the multidimensional nature of poverty and the need to ensure access to essential goods and services. It represents an important step towards the EU’s objective of eradicating poverty by 2050.
We particularly welcome the emphasis on adequacy, dignity, and the role of civil society in reaching the most vulnerable. We also note the concrete initiatives proposed in the Strategy, such as the Principles for effective anti-poverty policies, the development of new poverty indicators, and the structured dialogue with persons experiencing poverty. These elements are critical to ensure that policies will lead to real impact on the ground.
At the same time, the Strategy still relies primarily on existing instruments and coordination mechanisms, without introducing new dedicated financial resources. Ensuring the effective implementation, accessibility, and adequacy of existing funding, especially through the continuity of ESF+ and the future National and Regional Partnership Plans, will be essential.
From FEBA’s perspective, access to essential goods, including adequate and healthy food, must be clearly and explicitly integrated into implementation, monitoring and funding priorities. While the Strategy recognises rising food prices and increasing reliance on support systems, this dimension remains insufficiently developed and is not yet treated as a policy priority in its own right.
In this context, FEBA calls for:
- Ensuring access to food is explicitly and effectively supported as a core component of adequate living standards.
- Fully recognising food banks as key partners in delivering social inclusion policies and accompanying measures, beyond emergency aid.
- Strengthening monitoring tools to better capture material deprivation, including access to food.
- Maintaining and reinforcing EU instruments that support access to food, including existing schemes such as the School Scheme, as part of a coherent approach to tackling poverty and food insecurity.
FEBA stands ready to contribute with its network and expertise to support the effective delivery of the Strategy and ensure that no one is left behind.
