The European Commission on Friday put forward a set of common principles to help guide European Union (EU) member states in their strategies to tackle poverty.
EU national governments will be encouraged to refer to these common principles and define policies on this basis in their fight against poverty and social exclusion, said the commission, the executive body of the EU.
The recommendation is centered around three key aspects: adequate income support, inclusive labor markets and access to quality services.
"Current schemes for tackling poverty often don't work," said Vladimir Spidla, EU commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities.
"We must take an integrated approach to offer people a genuine way out of poverty. This means reintegrating as many people as possible in the labor market, while ensuring that those who cannot work also have access to adequate resources to live a dignified life."
Some 16 percent of EU citizens are at risk of poverty. The poverty rate rises to 19 percent among children.
Despite evidence on the effectiveness of social transfers in reducing poverty, a significant percentage of those targeted by social assistance schemes do not actually benefit from them, said the commission.
The principles, which are not legally binding, will be formally discussed by national governments in December. The commission hopes that the member states will agree on follow-up actions.
Source: Xinhua
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