Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/2095(INI)
Developing a new EU anti-poverty strategy
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 12 February 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 19 June 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 3 December 2025
- Tabled for plenary(done) 22 December 2025
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 12 February 2026
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
12 February 2026 · decision 5
Jobs, social affairs & equality, Resolution
Developing a new EU anti-poverty strategy
Adopted 385 for · 141 against · 53 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The text urges the Commission and member states to set full employment as a policy goal, strengthen social protection, and ensure universal access to quality public services.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:Removes references to undocumented persons and migrants from lists of vulnerable groups. Replaces a recital on water access with one on food affordability, and adds a new paragraph on administrative obstacles. Drops paragraphs urging a minimum income directive and fair taxation, and drops recommendations for a coordinator and task force. Adds paragraphs on child guarantee funding and deinstitutionalisation, and rewrites the menstrual poverty paragraph to call for an EU action plan. Adds a call for dedicated funding for food banks in the funding paragraph.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The new version adds extensive statistical recitals on poverty, child poverty, gender, Roma, digital exclusion, and other vulnerable groups, replacing the single recital. The resolution is expanded from 23 to 71 paragraphs, adding calls on gender-based violence, minimum income directive, housing, child poverty, digital inclusion, and governance. The horizontal principle is strengthened to require ex ante impact assessments on poverty and inequality in all relevant EU sectoral policies. Governance provisions are expanded, including a Commission task force, national action plans, and monitoring of the strategy. The only other change is a wording change in the explanatory statement.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Employment and Social Affairs
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- João Oliveira (The Left)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Martine Kemp (EPP), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (S&D), Margarita De La Pisa Carrión (Patriots), Georgiana Teodorescu (ECR), Hristo Petrov (Renew), Villy Søvndal (Greens)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Women’s Rights and Gender Equality· rapporteurLina Gálvez (S&D)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 12 Feb 2026
AI summary:Parliament calls on the Commission to present a comprehensive, adequately funded EU anti-poverty strategy with the goal of eradicating poverty by 2035 at the latest, using a rights-based, life-cycle approach and involving people with lived experience of poverty.
Tabled for plenary· 22 Dec 2025
AI summary:Parliament's resolution on developing a new EU anti-poverty strategy calls for a comprehensive, adequately funded strategy to eradicate poverty by 2035 at the latest, with a life-cycle approach and child poverty at its core.
Committee draft· 3 Jun 2025
AI summary:The draft report calls on the Commission to present an EU Anti-Poverty Strategy aiming to eradicate poverty by 2035, with a comprehensive approach, wealth redistribution, and participation of people in poverty.
Committee opinions: Opinion (FEMM), Draft opinion (FEMM)
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 4 steps
12 February 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 12 Feb 2026 Report A10-0260/2025Adopted text TA10-0049/2026
11 February 2026
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
3 February – 4 February 2026
14 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Amendment 1Amendment 2Amendments 3–5Amendment 6Amendment 7Amendment 8Amendment 9Amendments 10–11Amendment 12Amendments 12–13
22 December 2025
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 5 steps
3 December 2025
Committee vote: report adopted
EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
13 October 2025
FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
4 July – 24 July 2025
Amendments tabled in committee (2 batches)
Members of EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.
Amendments in committee (EMPL)Amendments in committee (EMPL)
19 June 2025
Referred to the EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) gives an opinion.
3 June 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/2095(INI)