Overview
- The Council of Ministers approved the updated Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 that embeds a universal €200-per-month payment for each child under 18 as a core anti-poverty measure.
- No launch date has been set, with enactment dependent on State Budget negotiations and parliamentary support after failed budget bids in 2025 and 2026; the ministry proposes financing via a 2% annual tax on wealth above €100 million.
- The benefit is designed to be universal regardless of income for families with legal residency and local registration, with documentation such as a family book, census certificate and ID required.
- Government calculations suggest the policy could cut child poverty by about 50%, and officials note comparable universal child benefits exist in 17 EU countries.
- The strategy also commits to tripling public housing investment with €7 billion over four years to move toward 5% social rental housing.