Belgium must unlock the potential of the Child Guarantee
Eurochild Belgian member, Kinderrechtencoalitie Vlaanderen (Children’s Rights Coalition Flanders), highlights in its new position paper that too many children are still being left behind in the implementation of the European Child Guarantee (ECG).
The paper “Europese Kindgarantie: van papier naar praktijk" is based on conversations with policy makers and an online survey conducted among civil society organisations in March-June 2025 in Flanders/Brussels, involving 64 respondents from 54 organisations. Many work in poverty reduction or child rights and are frontline organisations.
Civil society organisations across Flanders and Brussels report that families still face waiting lists for mental health services, a shortage of affordable childcare, costs that hinder full participation at school, ongoing housing insecurity, the high cost of healthy food, and insufficient support for young people leaving residential care.
The paper emphasises four key recommendations:
- Make the ECG the starting point for policy. Belgium needs a renewed, results-oriented plan that goes beyond just mapping existing measures. Clear goals, timelines, and budgets should be established across all relevant ministries and levels of government.
- Strengthen the institutional framework. The national coordinator must have the mandate, resources, and authority to lead cross-government delivery. Regional focal points should be empowered to align policies regionally. The structural involvement of civil society, and meaningful participation of children, must be ensured from design through to evaluation.
- Use the ECG as a lever for better access. Policy and investment decisions in childcare, education, housing, health, and nutrition should explicitly reference the ECG, with targeted measures for children in vulnerable situations. Communication about the ECG and its implementation process must be accessible for civil society organisations and the broader public.
- Ensure monitoring and accountability. Belgium’s action plan should include measurable indicators, regular public reporting, and mechanisms to adjust course if progress stalls.
It's time to turn commitments into tangible, coordinated action that reaches every child.
Kinderrechtencoalitie stands ready to support Belgian authorities and civil society partners in moving from paper to practice. Together, we can ensure the European Child Guarantee benefits every child, in every community.
