Working paper on a Child Guarantee
On 24 November 2015, a cross-party majority of MEPs approved a resolution to combat child poverty through the introduction of a Child Guarantee.
On 24 November 2015, a cross-party majority of MEPs approved a resolution to combat child poverty through the introduction of a Child Guarantee.
Eurochild warmly welcomes the focus at a European level on tackling child poverty, recognising that urgent action is required to address the rising numbers of child poverty across the EU. Of the 100 million people under the age of 18 in the European Union, over 26 million are at risk of poverty or social exclusion – this is more than one child in every four. The percentage of children living at risk of poverty or social exclusion varies significantly between Member States: Norway (11.9%), Iceland (13.7%) and Denmark (14.5%) have the lowest levels of persons under 18 at risk, whereas Hungary (41.8%), Bulgaria (45.2%) and Romania (50.5%) have the highest.4
A Child Guarantee initiative could help to increase political visibility and build the momentum needed at local, regional and national level to protect and promote the rights of children. Addressing child poverty is both a moral and economic imperative. Europe’s future prosperity depends on every child being able to realise his/her full potential.
Eurochild has published this working paper to recommend what the European Child Guarantee should look like and to further discussions with EU policy makers and politicians and its membership in further developing its recommendations regarding such an initiative.
