Bringing Children’s Realities to the EU: Eurochild Report Sparks Constructive Conversations in EU Institutions
On 2-3 December, H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Eurochild, met with key EU stakeholders in Brussels to present the findings and recommendations of Eurochild’s flagship report, Children's Realities in Europe: Progress & Gaps.
Informed by contributions from 57 Eurochild members across 31 countries, the report highlights critical gaps in children’s rights, offers actionable policy recommendations, and has been well-received as invaluable guidance for shaping EU and national policies.
- European Commission
The timing of these meetings was particularly significant, as the new European Commission officially began its term on 1 December, making it an opportune moment to engage with key representatives.
We met Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport. The meeting with Eurochild was the Commissioner's very first external meeting. His commitment to continuing the implementation of the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and developing a first-ever Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness is a promising step.
Her Excellency met with Ingrid Bellander Todino, Head of Unit, Fundamental Rights Policy DG Justice and Consumers, and Marie-Cécile Rouillon, the European Commission Coordinator for the Rights of the Child, to discuss children’s fundamental rights in Europe, including their rights to be protected against violence. Key actions related to the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European Commission’s recommendation on integrated child protection systems were also discussed.
Eurochild President also met with Raluca Painter, Head of Unit at DG REFORM, to explore reforms tied to children’s rights, including childcare and protection systems, education, and social protection, as well as the role of the Technical Support Instrument in supporting the European Child Guarantee.
The meeting with Mario Nava, Director-General at DG EMPL, focused on children’s social rights, including key findings from the European Semester Report and the implementation of the European Child Guarantee. Key recommendations were shared on how to integrate children’s rights into the very first EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and the European Pillar of Social Rights’ new Action Plan.
In a separate meeting with Irene Ceccanti, Children’s Rights Coordinator at DG NEAR, and colleagues overseeing Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia and Turkiye, discussions focused on advancing children’s rights in enlargement countries, highlighting key priorities in the countries aspiring to join the EU that could be highlighted in the EU Enlargement Package.
- European Parliament
Her Excellency engaged with the European Parliament, meeting President Roberta Metsola, whose unwavering commitment to children’s rights has been a cornerstone of her work in the EU. As a former Vice-Chair of the Intergroup on Children’s rights and in her current role, President Metsola has consistently championed policies and initiatives to promote and protect children’s well-being.
Her Excellency also met with MEP Hilde Vautmans, former Chair of the Child Rights Intergroup, the office of Alessandro Zan, the primary author of the Zan Bill in Italy, which aimed to combat homophobia, transphobia, and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Her Excellency also met with MEP Brando Benifei, an Italian MEP who is a rapporteur and a great champion of the European Child Guarantee and Emilio Puccio, former Secretary-General of the Intergroup on Children's Rights.
- OSCE - Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
In a meeting with Dr. Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Marianne Angvik OSCE Executive Programme Officer, Her Excellency highlighted the crucial role of Eurochild and its members in shaping key EU legislation to protect children from violence and trafficking.
Eurochild staff, including Secretary General Sabine Saliba, EU Affairs Coordinator Zuzana Konradova, Communications Coordinator Davide Rambaldi, and EU Advocacy Officer Francesca Pisanu, joined her Excellency during these meetings.
Eurochild remains dedicated to fostering dialogue and keeping children’s rights a top EU priority.
