It was updated in February 2026 to reflect the new strategies and initiatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission after over one year in office. This will consider the forward-looking discussions for preparing the 2028-2034 financial cycle as well as future initiatives of the 2024-2029 Commission. The first edition was published in 2015.

Read it here

For children in alternative care, life is often marked by uncertainty about the future. Since 2022, MEP Petrov has worked on initiatives to support children placed in residential care in Bulgaria through the association he founded, “Edin Bulgarin” (“One Bulgarian”). The most impactful aspect of this work is the educational and cultural visits, as well as the summer camps for children living in residential care.

A summer camp that began modestly in 2022 with 20 children, this summer reaches 73 children and young people from different social services across Bulgaria. That equates to three large classrooms of curious, creative, and supported children and youth. The number 73 may seem small compared to national statistics, but it carries a profound impact. These are 73 individual stories, and 73 lives changed.

For some children, these summer camps are their first holiday, first trip away, first glimpse of the sea. The true value of these initiatives lies in what cannot easily be measured – trust, self-confidence, and the relationships that are gradually built. Access to extracurricular activities, as well as to cultural and social life, is no less essential than access to basic services such as education, healthcare, and housing.

Read here the full message from MEP Petrov, and if you share his vision and would like to help expand summer camps to reach more children across the European Union, get in touch with MEP Petrov’s team. Reach out to Reneta Krivonozova, Accredited Parliamentary Assistant, at reneta.krivonozova@europarl.europa.eu.

The UN has found that Israel is committing genocide and deliberately targeting Palestinian children, highlighting that “the essence of childhood has been destroyed.” These are the words at the heart of a new report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. The report documents grave violations affecting Palestinian children since 7 October 2023 and describes the scale of harm as devastating and long-lasting.

According to the Commission, at least 21,200 Palestinian children have been killed and more than 44,000 injured in Gaza. The report examines the impact of Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities, including long-term consequences for children and newborns; on schools and educational facilities, causing disruption to learning and academic harm; and on orphanages and facilities caring for children. It also documents the effects of displacement and siege on children’s living conditions, including preventable mortality, malnutrition, morbidity and profound mental trauma.

The Commission states that the harm suffered by children has destroyed “family ties, identity, innocence, safety and future”. It also warns that much of this harm was “not incidental”, but part of a wider pattern affecting the survival, development and future of Palestinian children.

The scale and severity of the violations described by the UN Commission is appalling. At Eurochild, we have consistently called for the European Union, including the European Commission, to play a stronger role in protecting children affected by armed conflict and in ensuring that children’s rights are central to the EU’s external action, humanitarian response and political engagement.

We continue demanding the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, due to the grave breaches of international law and children’s rights in Palestine. Article 2 of the agreement mandates respect for human rights, and the EU’s failure to act exposes double standards.

The international community, including the EU and its Member States, must act urgently to protect children, ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access, support independent investigations, and guarantee accountability for violations of international law.

Belgium
Ms Mathilde WARGNIES
Federal Public Service Social Integration
mathilde.wargnies@mi-is.be  

Bulgaria
Ms Lilia STOYANOVICH
Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Lilia.stoyanovich@mlsp.government.bg; asya.ilieva@mlsp.government.bg

Czechia       
Mr David Karl
Head of the Department of Family Policy, Child Protection and Social Integration
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
david.karl@mpsv.gov.cz; alexandra.lacinova@mpsv.cz

Denmark
Ms Anita HØRBY
Head of Unit Legal and International Relations
Ministry for Social Affairs and Senior Citizens
ahra@sm.dk; osho@sm.dk

Germany
Ms Mareike WULF
Parliamentary State Secretary
Federal Ministry for Families, Seniors, Women, and Youth
Meike.Kazmierczak@bmbfsfj.bund.de; 611@bmbfsfj.bund.de

Estonia
Ms Hanna VSEVIOV
Deputy Secretary-General of Social Affairs
Ministry of Social Affairs
hanna.vseviov@sm.ee; kadri.kasterpalu@sm.ee

Ireland        
Anne O’MAHONY
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
anne.omahony@dcde.gov.ie; liz.dornan@dcde.gov.ie

Greece        
Dr Artemis ANAGNOSTOU-DEDOULI
Honorary Director General of Social Security & Welfare
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
childguarantee.douk@ekka.org.gr; presidentoffice@ekka.org.gr

Spain
Ms Sandra de GARMEDIAS CUETOS
Director-General for Childhood and Adolescence Rights
Ministry of Youth and Childhood
sdegarmendia@juventudeinfancia.gob.es; marianavas@juventudeinfancia.gob.es

France
Mr Jean-Benoît DUJOL
Director General for Social Cohesion, Interministerial delegate for families
alexis.rinckenbach@social.gouv.fr

Croatia
Ms Dalida Kos (interim contact point)
Head of the Service for Regulated Professions in the field of Social Welfare
Ministry of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
dalida.kos@mrosp.hr

Italy
Dr Maria BURANI PROCACCINI
Member of the working group on policies in support of children
mburaniprocaccini@lavoro.gov.it; segrnazcoordinfanzia@lavoro.gov.it

Cyprus
Ms Maria YIANAGOU
Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare
myiangou@sws.dmsw.gov.cy

Latvia
Mr Lauris NEIKENS
Senior Expert, Children and Family Policy Department
Ministry of Welfare
lauris.neikens@lm.gov.lv

Lithuania
Ms Kristina STEPANOVA
Head of Family and Child Rights Protection Group
Ministry of Social Security and Labour
kristina.stepanova@socmin.lt

Luxembourg
Ms Claudia MONTI
Head of Children Rights Service
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth
claudia.monti@men.lu; dominique.sweetnam-marron@men.lu

Hungary
Ms Judit RÉZMŰVES
Head of Unit, Department for Multilateral Affairs
Ministry of Human Capacities
judit.rezmuves@bm.gov.hu

Malta
Mr Jonathan SILVIO
Director Policy Development and Programme Implementation
Ministry for Social Justice and Solidarity
jonathan.a.silvio@gov.mt

Netherlands
Mr Stijn Van Bruggen (interim)
Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
svbruggen@minszw.nl; lvbeek@minszw.nl

Austria
Mr Georg REIBMAYR
Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
georg.reibmayr@sozialministerium.at

Poland
Ms Aleksandra GAJEWSKA
Secretary of State
Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy
sekretariat.min_ag@mrips.gov.pl; tomasz.pactwa@mrpips.gov.pl

Portugal
Ms Sónia Maria CUNHA FERREIRA DE ALMEIDA
Director-General, Child Guarantee National Coordinator
Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security
sonia.almeida@garantiainfancia.gov.pt; tatiana.jorge@garantiainfancia.gov.pt

Romania
Ms Silvia DINICA
Secretary of State
Ministry of Labour, family, Youth and Social Solidarity
silvia.dinica@mmuncii.gov.ro

Slovenia
Ms Anita BREGAR
Director General, Family Affairs Directorate Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
anita.bregar@gov.si; ruzica.boskic@gov.si; mojca.kambic@gov.si

Slovakia
Ms Petra PETROVIČOVÁ
National Coordination Centre for Resolving the Issues of Violence against Children
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic
petra.petrovicova@employment.gov.sk; alena.mikulasova@employment.gov.sk

Finland       
Ms Laura KUUSIO
Senior specialist
Department for Communities and Functional Capacity, Children and Young People Unit
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
laura.kuusio@gov.fi

Sweden
Ms Parthena HANTZARIDOU
Social Department
Government Chancellery
parthena.hantzaridou@regeringskansliet.se

On children specifically, the Presidency programme commits to supporting the strengthening of the European Child Guarantee, recognising that social investment and action on child poverty brings long-term economic and social benefits.

Eurochild will be taking part in two events during the Presidency. On 30-31 July, the High Level Conference: Listening to Children and Young People – challenges in challenging settings will bring together policymakers and practitioners to discuss how children’s voices can be heard even in the most difficult circumstances. Then, on 24-25 September, the Meeting of European Child Guarantee Coordinators will gather national coordinators to take stock of progress on implementing the Guarantee across Member States.

We are also happy to see that the Presidency will host a Conference on Online Safety for Children and Young People on 10-11 September to listen to the experiences of children and young people in the online environment and to seek their views on what online safety means to them.

With MFF negotiations reaching their peak, this is the moment to make sure children’s rights are built into the budget lines that will shape their lives for the next decade.

We look forward to collaborating with the Irish Presidency in the next six months!

Submit your creative work on cyberbullying for a chance to win a trip to the Safer Internet Forum 2026 in Brussels!

What we are looking for

Show us ideas that do more than just point out the problem. Ideas that:

1. promote kindness and respect online 
2. build confidence and resilience 
3. encourage young people to support each other 
4. offer practical, real-life solutions 
5. help create a safer, more positive digital culture

Your idea, your format

Choose the format that fits it best:

Video (short film, animation, documentary clip)
Podcast
Social media content (campaign, carousel, reel concept, etc.)
Infographic or visual poster
Digital artwork or illustration
Educational factsheet or resource
Interactive quiz or survey

Find out more here!

Last week, international leaders, governments, civil society organisations and international partners gathered for the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026. The conference took place at an important moment for Ukraine, following the opening of the first negotiation cluster in the country’s accession process to the European Union.

These milestones are not only about reconstruction, economic recovery and European integration. They are also about the kind of society Ukraine is building for the future.

The European Expert Group on the transition from institutional to community-based support (EEG) has adopted a statement welcoming Ukraine’s continued commitment to deinstitutionalisation and community-based support despite the immense challenges created by Russia’s full-scale war of aggression.

The statement highlights that deinstitutionalisation is more than a social policy reform. It is a human rights commitment and an important part of building an inclusive, resilient and democratic society. It is also closely linked to Ukraine’s path towards EU membership and alignment with European values and international human rights standards.

As Ukraine’s recovery continues, the EEG calls on Ukrainian authorities, European institutions and international partners to ensure that reconstruction efforts strengthen families, communities and community-based services, rather than recreate systems of segregation and institutionalisation.

Recovery is not only about rebuilding infrastructure.

Recovery is about rebuilding communities.

Read the full EEG statement.

Children affected by crime must be treated first and foremost as children and rights-holders. The Action Plan should recognise that children may come into contact with crime in different ways: as victims, witnesses, alleged offenders, perpetrators, or often as both victims and perpetrators. This is especially relevant for children affected by poverty, discrimination, trauma, violence, exploitation, migration, institutionalisation, family conflict or social exclusion.

Eurochild argues that children’s contact with the justice system often reflects failures of prevention, protection and support by the State, and should therefore be addressed through child protection, early intervention, rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punitive or security-based responses. The paper calls for access to justice to be guaranteed across all systems children encounter, including criminal, civil, administrative, child protection, custody and restorative justice proceedings.

Children face specific barriers, including a lack of child-friendly information, limited understanding of procedures, dependence on adults, conflicts of interest, and a lack of legal standing, legal capacity or independent representation. These barriers are particularly acute for children in vulnerable situations. Eurochild highlights serious gaps across Europe, including delays, repeated questioning, insufficient legal and psychosocial support, limited child-friendly procedures and weak coordination between justice and child protection systems.

A central recommendation is that justice systems must be child-friendly, coordinated and trauma-informed. Eurochild warns against trends to lower the age of criminal responsibility and calls for rights-based, non-stigmatising language. Terms such as juvenile delinquents or criminal minors should be avoided in favour of language such as children in contact with the justice system or children alleged as, accused of or recognised as having infringed criminal law.

The paper also stresses that children should never be placed in settings with adults and that detention must be used only as a genuine last resort for the shortest appropriate time. Diversion, restorative justice, mediation, educational measures and community-based alternatives should be prioritised. Eurochild also emphasises the need to address root causes. Poverty, exclusion, discrimination, housing insecurity, migration status, family violence, lack of access to education, institutionalisation and weak support services can all increase children’s exposure to exploitation, recruitment and criminalisation.

The Action Plan should therefore strengthen integrated child protection systems, with clear referral pathways, multidisciplinary cooperation, child-centred case management, Barnahus-type models, safe reporting mechanisms and sustainable funding. It should also prevent the criminalisation of status-related behaviours such as running away, begging, school absence or survival strategies linked to poverty or exploitation.

The paper calls for targeted protection for children in vulnerable situations, including children in migration, children with disabilities, children in alternative care, children experiencing homelessness, LGBTQI+ children, racialised children, and children facing violence at home. It stresses that children should never be punished for offences they were forced or exploited to commit, including in cases of trafficking, drug-related exploitation, sexual exploitation, false documents or recruitment by criminal networks. The principle of non-punishment must be applied in practice.

Eurochild also calls on the Action Plan to address racial profiling, discriminatory policing and over-criminalisation. Children and young people must not be criminalised, intimidated, or disproportionately policed for taking part in peaceful assemblies, human rights advocacy, climate activism or anti-racism movements.

Read our full contribution

The selected candidate will join the Programmes Department, reporting directly to the Head of the Department, and will oversee Con i bambini‘s international strategy with a focus on cultivating and developing relationships, building partnerships, and managing international initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• implement the international positioning strategy approved by the executive director;
• support the Programmes Department in managing international relations by promoting and attending meetings and discussions, and preparing relevant documentation;
• build and strengthen alliances and partnerships with other institutional stakeholders (foundations, philanthropic organizations, European and international networks, and public entities), mobilize resources, and oversee the entire partnership development process from networking activities to the preparation of documentation and reporting;
• initiate and manage European partnership initiatives, including those within the EU framework, by working cross-functionally with relevant internal departments;
• coordinate and participate in international initiatives in collaboration with the Programmes and Communications Departments; and
• Prepare materials and reports for executive and governing bodies.

Requirements

• a degree and specialist training in social or economic sciences;
• at least ten years of professional experience in positions of responsibility or coordination in roles similar to this position within international contexts (candidates are requested to clearly highlight these experiences in their CV, specifying their nature and the responsibility held);
• knowledge of the nonprofit/third sector and social project design and management;
• availability for frequent international travel; and
• native-level or fluent Italian, fluent English, and an excellent command of at least one additional official language of the European Union.
• this is a senior-level position and it’s based in Rome. Residence is required.

The following will be considered assets:

• strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a team and toward defined objectives;
• active participation in international networks; and
• experience in writing and managing European projects.

Employment Terms

The successful candidate will be employed under the Italian National Collective Labour Agreement (Contratto Collettivo Nazionale di Lavoro, CCNL) for the Tertiary, Distribution, and Services sector, as stipulated by Confcommercio. The starting gross annual salary (Retribuzione Annua Lorda, RAL) will range between €30,000 and €45,000, to be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and professional experience.

To apply, please complete the online form by 31 July attaching:

• your CV (maximum 3 pages);
• a cover letter (maximum 1 page);
• a valid identity document.

Optionally, candidates may also attach a supplementary letter (maximum 1 page, using the dedicated field in the form) describing their previous professional experience, with particular reference to how it relates to the required qualifications. Please note that only candidates whose profiles closely match the requirements of the position will be contacted. This vacancy may be closed before the stated deadline if suitable candidates are identified earlier.

Candidates may be required to attend multiple rounds of interviews.

For further information: affarigenerali@conibambini.org.

Edukids builds on the experience of Eurochild National Forums (NEFs), which are already actively operating in other European countries. It brings together active children aged 8–18 from across different regions of Ukraine, who participate in events, surveys, and initiatives aimed at promoting and safeguarding children’s rights, as well as fostering children’s participation in public decision-making processes.

The majority of children assess their overall well-being as average (37%) or moderately positive (32%), corresponding to scores of 3-4. At the same time, nearly one in six children (16%) report negative well-being (scores of 1-2), while only 14.3% feel very well (score of 5). At the same time, negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, sadness, and anger are also quite widespread. Particular attention should be paid to the high levels of fatigue, which may indicate accumulated stress. Notably, the level of hope remains relatively high, suggesting that children maintain a degree of psychological resilience even under conditions of prolonged stress.

Children describe the war not as a background condition, but as a daily reality: air raid alerts, shelling, shelters, a constant sense of danger, disrupted sleep, learning, and rest. Responses often include a request to recognise the lived reality of childhood in wartime, rather than perceiving it solely through the lens of news coverage.

Children also refer to pressure and high expectations from schools, which do not always take wartime conditions into account. Most frequently, children speak about difficulties related to learning: difficulty concentrating, lessons disrupted by air raid alerts; challenges studying without electricity, heating, and internet access; a significant amount of material that must be covered independently; difficulties preparing for the National Multi-subject Test (NMT) and other exams.

Children are often required to organise their own learning, seek out resources, and adapt to challenging conditions. This reflects a high level of resilience, while at the same time pointing to insufficient systemic support.

Read the full study