Cyprus underscored the need for stronger, coordinated European action to safeguard child welfare and combat child poverty, as Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Klea Papaellina chaired a meeting of EU employment and social‑policy ministers (EPSCO).
Papaellina said investing in children “is not a cost but a strategic investment” in the EU’s cohesion, competitiveness and long‑term resilience. Nearly one in four children in the bloc is at risk of poverty or social exclusion, she noted, arguing that the scale of the challenge requires targeted and collective action at EU level.
She welcomed the unanimous approval of the Council Conclusions of the Cypriot Presidency, titled “Investing in Children: Enhancing Child Well‑Being, Social Inclusion and Combating Child Poverty in the European Union.” The endorsement, she said, sends a clear message that “children are Europe’s future.”
Ministers focused on strengthening a “Social Europe,” with particular emphasis on breaking the cycle of poverty through personalised support services that promote autonomy, participation and social inclusion. The discussion was linked to the EU’s first‑ever Strategy for Combating Poverty, expected to be unveiled by the European Commission during Cyprus’s presidency of the Council.
The meeting also featured presentations by EU Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib on the Union’s newly adopted strategies on Gender Equality and on Combating Racism for 2026–2030, which reinforce the EU’s framework for tackling discrimination.
Papaellina thanked participants, including Executive Vice‑President Roxana Mînzatu, and stressed that creating conditions of equal opportunity and dignity for all remains a core pillar of a strong and fair Europe.
On the sidelines, she held bilateral talks with Greece’s Minister for Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michailidou, on expanding cooperation.