How has EU action made an impact on poverty reduction within the EU?
11. The EU focus on poverty reduction has led to an increased political awareness at national level and thus to a stronger focus on poverty and exclusion in national social and economic policies. A key element in the process is the involvement of all relevant stakeholder, such as NGOs, social partners, local and regional authorities. 12. Moreover, transnational exchange projects have helped Member States to share good practice and to learn from each other. Community funding has played an important role in promoting social inclusion, particularly through the Social Inclusion Action Programme and the European Social Fund (ESF). 13. Against this background, EU action on poverty has created a clear consensus about the key challenges: to make labour markets truly inclusive; to modernise social protection systems; to deliver high quality social services that are accessible for all people; to improve education, training and housing; to overcome discrimination and increase the integration of p
