Source: European Parliament
1. The Commission upholds fundamental rights as enshrined in the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union . In the EU, asylum-seekers are entitled to reception conditions (housing, financial support, etc.) under conditions specified by the Reception Conditions Directive[1].
2. The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan[2] sets out concrete initiatives to reduce by 2030 the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million. The Commission is working on the first EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, aiming to improve access to social protection and services, including for vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the Commission adopted the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030[3] to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities in society and supports Member States in implementing the United Nation’s Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities[4].
3. EU financial support to vulnerable groups is provided, for instance, through European cohesion policy funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. In particular, the Social Climate Fund[5] helps to alleviate the social and economic impacts arising from the Emissions Trading System 2[6], providing dedicated funding to support the most affected vulnerable groups, notably households in energy or transport poverty. The Commission plans to adopt the European affordable housing plan[7], to tackle the housing crisis, foster social cohesion as well as promote climate neutrality.
- [1] Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast), OJ L 180, 29.6.2013, p. 96-116, which will be replaced by Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection, OJ L, 2024/1346, 22.5.2024, as of 12 June 2026.
- [2] https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/european-pillar-social-rights-building-fairer-and-more-inclusive-european-union/european-pillar-social-rights-action-plan_en#:~:text=The%20European%20Pillar%20of%20Social%20Rights%20sets%20out,the%20Principles%20into%20concrete%20actions%20to%20benefit%20citizens.
- [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0101.
- [4] https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/crpd/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-crpd.
- [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32023R0955.
- [6] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets/ets2-buildings-road-transport-and-additional-sectors_en#about-the-ets2.
- [7] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14670-European-affordable-housing-plan_en.