ENSIE reaction to the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy

ENSIE welcomes the publication of the European Commission’s EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, released on 6 May 2026, as an important political milestone in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. The Strategy recognises that poverty is multidimensional and must be addressed through coordinated action on employment, social protection, access to essential services, housing, education and territorial development.

ENSIE particularly welcomes the recognition of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) as key actors in supporting people facing barriers to the labour market. By providing quality jobs, tailored support, training and pathways towards autonomy, WISEs offer concrete solutions to one of the root causes of poverty: exclusion from employment. The Strategy’s focus on labour-market activation, active inclusion and quality jobs reflects ENSIE’s long-standing advocacy for inclusive labour markets.

However, ambition must now be translated into implementation. ENSIE calls on the European Commission and Member States to fully involve WISEs in the upcoming 2026 consultation on EU action to support the activation of people excluded from the labour market. This process should go beyond traditional social partners and include civil society organisations and WISE representative networks working directly with people furthest from employment.

ENSIE also urges Member States to integrate WISE ecosystems into national, regional and local anti-poverty strategies, employment policies, social inclusion plans and territorial development programmes. Stable and accessible funding, including through future EU funding instruments, will be essential to ensure the Strategy delivers real impact.

Finally, ENSIE calls for stronger data collection and the creation of a permanent European WISE observatory to better measure the contribution of WISEs to poverty reduction, job quality, skills development and social inclusion. ENSIE stands ready to work with EU institutions, Member States and partners to make the Strategy a driver of inclusive and sustainable change.