The Intergroup on Children's Rights starts its mandate
Eurochild, as a member of CRAG (The Child Rights Action Group), welcomes the European Parliament Intergroup’s work plan for 2025 and releases a set of recommendations for its mandate. Eurochild’s Secretary General highlighted the challenges in implementing the European Child Guarantee at the first official meeting.
On 27 March 2025, the first official meeting of the Intergroup and CRAG took place at the European Parliament in Brussels to exchange views on upcoming priorities. The next years are critical to ensure that children are at the heart of EU policies.
Eurochild Secretary General Sabine Saliba spoke at the meeting about the ongoing challenges in implementing the European Child Guarantee. Many Member States struggle with limited financial resources, often relying on existing budgets rather than securing new funds, raising concerns about financial sufficiency. While the European Parliament recently supported key measures to combat child poverty, it failed to allocate the €20 billion previously advocated for, putting the initiative’s success at risk.
Gaps in data collection and monitoring hinder progress assessment, and civil society’s involvement remains inconsistent, limiting the initiative’s effectiveness. Additionally, national action plans often fail to fully address the needs of the most vulnerable children, including those from marginalised communities, in alternative care, or with disabilities. Crucially, child participation in policymaking is often overlooked, despite its importance in shaping effective solutions.
Recommended Priorities:
- Review of the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child
- Strengthening the European Child Guarantee
- Guaranteeing children’s rights in the Post 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework
- Protecting the rights of children in the digital age
- Protecting children in migration
- Fighting against child trafficking
- Promoting children’s rights in external action
- Ensuring meaningful, inclusive and safe child participation
- Advocating for child rights impact assessments
Nearly 100 Members of the European Parliament have already pledged to be a #ChildRightsChampion by signing the #VoteforChildren manifesto, symbolising their commitment to deliver for all children throughout the 2024-2029 European Parliament legislature. A comprehensive approach is now needed to safeguard children’s rights and well-being in all environments.
To ensure an effective and ongoing dialogue, we propose establishing a structured cooperation between CRAG and the Intergroup’s Bureau with regular meetings on pressing child rights issues and to discuss the work plan.
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