Austria's 2024 Biennial report on the implementation of the Child Guarantee – an overview

Three years after the adoption of the European Child Guarantee, EU Member States are releasing the first report on its implementation. The reports offer an overview of the context, target groups, and services established to execute the European Child Guarantee’s National Action Plans. Additionally, they include sections covering indicators, financing details, and insights and conclusions gleaned from the implementation process.

The Austrian Government has submitted its Biennial report on the implementation of the Child Guarantee.

The report focuses on:

• Early childhood education and care: Austria is investing €200 million annually (2022/23–2026/27) to expand early childhood education and care.
• Education and school-based activities: Measures include German language support, the Disability 2022 – 2030 Action Plan focused on inclusive schooling, revised special education curricula, and expanded provincial initiatives on inclusion.
• Healthy meal each school day: Updated School Canteen Guidelines and regional programmes promote balanced school meals and regular water intake.
• Healthcare: The 2024 Children’s and Young People’s Health Strategy, social insurance reforms, and projects such as the ABC of young people’s psychosocial health aim to strengthen health services, literacy, and psychological support.
• Healthy nutrition: Updated national dietary guidelines and school canteen standards improve the quality and availability of healthy food in schools.
• Adequate housing: Expanded national programmes, such as the Wohnschirm and Housing First, seek to prevent and reduce homelessness, backed by €264 million funding until 2026.
• Family support: A permanent child supplement and annual valorisation of family benefits provide targeted support to low-income households, reaching around 1.2 million families and 2 million children

Check out the rest of the 2024 Biennial reports on the implementation of the Child Guarantee!

Eurochild and its members will continue to call on Member States to release their biennial reports and work to ensure the Child Guarantee National Action Plans help end child poverty.

This summary provides key highlights from the Biennial report on the Child Guarantee implementation in Austria. It is not exhaustive or evaluative.