EU Parliament Anti-Poverty Resolution
A Major Step Forward for Mothers, Families and Children

The European Parliament has adopted its Resolution on a new EU Anti-Poverty Strategy for 2025–2026, following joint work by the EMPL and FEMM Committees. This marks a significant political milestone in the fight against poverty and reflects many of the priorities long advocated by MMM.

Encouragingly, several of MMM’s key demands have been retained. Our contribution has been formally recognised through the explicit citation of our position paper, “Mothers’ Poverty in the EU.” In addition, shared priorities developed with the Alliance for Investing in Children and the Social Platform have also been incorporated.

Placing families—and mothers—at the heart of the fight against poverty

A major strength of the Resolution is its recognition that child poverty is closely linked to family poverty. Without a comprehensive response, poverty risks being persisting across generations—from childhood into adulthood and old age.

To address this, the Resolution promotes a life-cycle approach that supports both children and their families, particularly during early childhood. Recognising that these early years are critical for physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, as well as long-term wellbeing.

The Resolution also highlights the heightened risks faced by single-parent families, especially single mothers, who are significantly more likely to experience poverty than two-parent households. It acknowledges systemic barriers such as income insecurity, housing instability, and limited access to services. Targeted preventive support – including assistance for victims of domestic violence – is therefore essential to break cycles of disadvantage.

Strengthening work-life balance and women’s economic security

A key achievement of the Resolution is its strong focus on improving work-life balance and supporting women’s economic independence. It calls on Member States to strengthen maternity, paternity and parental rights, including:

• Guaranteed income during maternity leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Improved workplace conditions for breastfeeding

The Resolution also promotes accessible and adequately paid paternity leave, recognising its role in encouraging a more equal sharing of care responsibilities.

Additionally, it calls for measures to support women returning to the labour market after caregiving-related career breaks. These include “returnship” programmes and the recognition of parental leave periods within pension systems.

More broadly, the Resolution acknowledges the disproportionate impact of unpaid care work on women and its long-term effect on financial security, reinforcing the need for structural reform.

Ensuring access to essential services

The Resolution calls for universal access to high-quality, affordable public services, including healthcare, childcare, and social support.

Particular emphasis is placed on:

• Prenatal, maternal, neonatal, and paediatric healthcare
• Early childhood education and care

These services are recognised as key drivers in breaking the cycle of poverty and supporting parents’ participation in the labour market.

Mental health is also identified as a critical priority. The Resolution recommends strengthening psychosocial support services for vulnerable families and children, backed by adequate resources and trained professionals.

Preventing family separation and tackling homelessness

A clear message of the Resolution is that poverty must never justify separating children from their families. Member States are urged to ensure that financial hardship, housing, issues, or lack of services are not used as grounds for institutional care, which should remain a last resort.

Instead, the Resolution emphasises preventive strategies and stronger family support services. It also calls on the European Commission to develop an ambitious EU action plan to end homelessness by 2030, with targeted measures addressing child, family and female homelessness—often linked to job insecurity and domestic violence.

Addressing structural inequalities and intergenerational poverty

The Resolution adopts an intersectional approach, recognising that poverty both stems from and reinforces discrimination. Women, children, single parents, informal carers, migrants and other marginalised groups face compounded risks due to structural barriers in labour markets and social protection systems.

By addressing these overlapping inequalities, the Resolution aims to ensure access to rights and opportunities for all.

A forward-looking framework

Overall, the Resolution provides a comprehensive and forward-looking framework to combat poverty in the European Union. By promoting a life-cycle approach, investing in early childhood, supporting families, and recognising the central role of mothers, it lays the foundation for more inclusive and effective policies.

For MMM, this represents strong validation of sustained advocacy efforts. The next crucial step is to translate these commitments into concrete actions at both EU and national levels, ensuring meaningful change for mothers, families and children across Europe.