ALONE Submission to the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy
The European Commission launched a public consultation to seek views on the forthcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, which will be the first of its kind at EU level. According to the European Commission, this strategy will aim to provide essential protection to people and ‘tackle the root causes of poverty’.
In this submission, ALONE took part in a detailed questionnaire which will be made publicly available by the Commission, including;
- Perceptions and Causes of Poverty
- What does poverty mean to you? What are the most important causes of poverty?
- Policies to Address Poverty
- What are the most effective policies in reducing poverty?
- Vulnerable Groups
- Which vulnerable groups require further specific action?
- Assessing National Anti-Poverty Strategies
- What has helped facilitate the success of past national anti-poverty policies?
- Assessing EU Relevant Policies
- How effective have existing policies and measures at EU level been at combatting poverty?
- Designing the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy
- What actions should be included in the upcoming strategy? What can the EU do to help national policies?
Within this questionnaire, ALONE emphasised the growing concern of poverty among older people, encompassing struggles to afford healthy food, timely healthcare, social participation, adequate heating, and home maintenance. ALONE stated that the EU must recognise poverty as a health issue, as living in poverty impairs cognitive and socioemotional functioning, increases malnutrition, limits physical ability, and raises mortality rates, undermining the foundations of healthy ageing.
In an additional written submission, ALONE provided further detail on poverty among older people in Ireland.
