The Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU has placed an emphasis on combating poverty and promoting children’s well-being, according to the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Klea Papaellina, who is chairing today’s meeting—Monday—in Luxembourg of the Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council meeting on social policy issues, as part of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council.

Ahead of the final EPSCO Council meeting under the Cypriot Presidency, Ms. Papaellina stated that over the past six months, the Cypriot Presidency had prioritized strengthening the social dimension of the European Union, with a focus on combating poverty and promoting children’s well-being. He added that the Presidency also worked in the areas of aging, improving access to quality long-term care services, and the inclusion of people with disabilities.

As he noted, during the Presidency, Council Conclusions on investing in children were adopted, and the Commission’s presentation of the social package was welcomed.

Ms. Papaellina noted that the ministers will discuss the social package today, with an emphasis on implementing the European Union’s Strategy for Combating Poverty at the national level and on ways to improve beneficiaries’ access to social benefits and services. She noted that more and more children are growing up in the digital world and, therefore, the EU must ensure that their world is safe both online and offline.

At the same time, she referred to the initiatives of the Cypriot Presidency for the protection of children in the digital world, noting that priority was given to addressing cyberbullying against girls through the adoption of relevant Council Conclusions on its prevention and combating.

In conclusion, the Deputy Minister noted that these initiatives are key pillars for strengthening the European social model, emphasizing the need to translate these commitments into tangible improvements for citizens, with the goal of a Europe that leaves no one behind.

Source: KYPE