Prospects for an EU-wide Child Guarantee to combat child poverty

Date: 28th January 2021
Category: Child poverty

Drawing of a child's face

Almost 22.5% of children in the European Union are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The economic fallout from COVID-19 continues to hit children, young people and their families. This article looks at progress towards implementing an EU-wide Child Guarantee to combat poverty.

The Child Guarantee was originally proposed in 2015 by the European Parliament. The aim was to create a scheme which would ensure every child in the EU has access to free healthcare, free education, free early childhood education and care, decent housing and nutritious food.

Work has since been undertaken to design the new Child Guarantee, which is planned to take the form of a Council Recommendation later this year.

A recent newsletter from the Observatory for Sociopolitical Developments in Europe considers the proposals in detail. It discusses the necessary steps for the implementation of an EU-wide Child Guarantee, the perspectives of civil society organisations in Europe and the views of national experts from France and Italy of child poverty, measures to combat it and the potentials of an EU-wide Child Guarantee.

  • Read the newsletter here.