SGI Europe addresses the Implementation Dialogue on the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy

On 24 February 2026, SGI Europe participated in the European Commission’s Implementation Dialogue on measures to combat poverty, organised by Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Social Rights, Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness.

Representing SGI Europe, Secretary General Valeria Ronzitti contributed to the discussion on the upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, the implementation of Minimum Income Recommendation and the reinforced European Child Guarantee. The exchange focused on a key question: how to move from strong policy commitments at EU level to effective delivery on the ground.

Access to services as a foundation for inclusion

SGI Europe underlined that accessible and affordable services of general interest are a precondition for sustainable pathways out of poverty. Income support remains essential, but it is not sufficient on its own. Without effective access to essential services, labour market participation becomes fragile and social risks increase.

In practical terms, this means:

• Ensuring that housing costs do not absorb a disproportionate share of household income
• Guaranteeing the availability of childcare and long-term care services
• Providing transport connections that enable access to employment opportunities
• Securing meaningful digital access for all

When these conditions are not met, people who are willing and able to work face structural barriers that limit their opportunities. Effective anti-poverty policies therefore depend on strengthening the local capacity of those delivering support and ensuring that services are available, affordable and of quality across all territories.

A place-based approach and the Freedom to Stay

Poverty and social exclusion have a strong territorial dimension across the European Union. Disparities between regions, urban and rural areas, and neighbourhoods affect both access to services and labour market outcomes.

A genuine Freedom to Stay requires investment in social and physical infrastructure, digital connectivity and affordable housing in all territories. Citizens should not be forced to leave their communities due to a lack of access to essential services or employment opportunities. Strengthening territorial cohesion is therefore central to an effective Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Simplification, governance and predictable investment

The dialogue also addressed the need for simplification. Administrative fragmentation can hinder implementation, particularly at the local level. Simplification efforts should focus on reducing unnecessary complexity while maintaining robust social protection standards.

What is needed now is predictable social investment, coordinated governance and stronger implementation capacity. Delivering on the objectives of the Anti-Poverty Strategy requires aligning EU instruments with national and local realities, and ensuring that funding frameworks support long-term solutions rather than short-term measures.

SGI Europe stands ready to contribute its cross-sectoral expertise and practical experience to support the effective implementation of the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and to strengthen access to services of general interest across Europe.