Romania has started the development of a national anti-poverty strategy and the consolidation of social inclusion, being the first member country of the European Union to concretely respond to the European call in this regard, in a context where almost one in five Romanians lives on the poverty line, the interim Minister of Labor Dragos Pislaru told a Thursday's press conference.

According to him, Romania is the first EU member country that initiated the steps to develop a national anti-poverty strategy and to strengthen social inclusion.

'Yesterday, by ministerial order, I adopted the start of the development of Romania's anti-poverty strategy and, also yesterday, thanks to my colleagues in the ministry, I submitted the project chart in order to obtain funding of approximately 3 million euros from the Technical Assistance Program 2021-2027 for the entire development process. I confess to you, in a slightly formal note, that it is good to and focus, in the sense that, on the part related to the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, we have already made available and we will launch in June the call for everything that means the 2028-2034 roadmap, so the next multi-annual financial framework. We have allocated a significant amount of money for all the ministries that want to prepare their strategic framework, because we need to know what we spend the money on. let's know what we're spending it for, why we're spending it. This time, the Ministry of Labor is reacting and rallying to the European exercise related to the European strategy', mentioned Dragos Pislaru.

He emphasized that the project prepared to be financed refers to 'increasing the administrative capacity of the authorities' and is not just a sectoral project.

Thus, it does not only target the Ministry of Labor and subordinate agencies, but all other institutions that have a connection with policies related to the fight against poverty. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)