Eurochild's contribution to the New Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights
The next EU Action Plan must make the eradication of child poverty a core objective and fully integrate children’s rights across all social policy areas.
Eurochild welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the development of a renewed Action Plan to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights. As the largest network dedicated to upholding the rights of children across Europe, Eurochild recognises the progress made under the 2021 Action Plan. However, the growing number of children at risk of poverty and social exclusion, reaching 19.5 million or 24.2% of the child population in 2024, demands an ambitious and rights-based approach to Europe’s social agenda.
While eradicating child poverty is a moral imperative grounded in human rights, it is also a financially sound investment. Children growing up in poverty or social exclusion begin life at a disadvantage, with long-term consequences for their development and opportunities. Social exclusion is intergenerational, undermining social cohesion and increasing the burden on welfare systems. It is estimated that failing to reduce child poverty costs European countries an average of GDP annually.
As the 2013 Commission Recommendation for investing in children states: ‘’Preventing the transmission of disadvantage across generations is a crucial investment.’’
