This fact sheet explains the evolution of EU policies to combat poverty, social exclusion and discrimination. At the end of the 1990s, combating social exclusion was enshrined as a policy objective in the Treaties and the EU was equipped with stronger tools to fight against discrimination. Since then, key actions have been taken, such as the establishment of poverty reduction targets and the strategies designed to achieve them, as well as the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation.
Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP