Spain'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 Government of Spain submitted its 2024 Biennial report on the implementation of the Child Guarantee in 2024.

The report focuses on:

• Early childhood education and care: The Government of Spain has distributed funds to the Autonomous Communities for the creation of more than 65,000 new places for children in the first cycle of ECEC. The Autonomous Communities are expanding access by constructing new schools, expanding existing infrastructures, and creating new educational units.

• Education and school-based activities: Public spending on education reached 4.71% of GDP in 2023. Key actions include reducing the indirect costs of education, providing support and guidance to students, tackling school dropout rates, and offering digital skills training. Measures are also being implemented to address the digital divide.

• Healthy meal each school day: Programmes support vulnerable students with free or subsidised meals.

• Healthcare: The list of common services under the National Health System has been extended to include dental health care for children. Mental health services for children and adolescents are being strengthened and expanded, as part of the Mental Health Strategy Action Plan.

• Healthy nutrition: The approval of the National Strategic Plan for the Reduction of Childhood Obesity (2022–2030) is a significant step forward.

• Adequate housing: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda was created to strengthen coordination. Catalonia, the Community of Madrid, and the Region of Murcia are supporting housing with affordable rents for families living in inadequate conditions or struggling to pay rent.

• Alternative care: The 2024-2030 National Strategy for a New Model of Community-Based Care aims to move away from institutional care and transition towards family and community-based support systems.

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 Spain published in December 2024. It is not exhaustive or evaluative.