On 19 August, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the Roadmap for the Child Guarantee. EAPN welcomes the commitment shown by the European Commission to progress towards the development of a Child Guarantee which can have an impact on Child Poverty, with a strong implementation and monitoring framework, including through EU funds.
However, it is clear that a focus on key services alone is not sufficient to reduce poverty for children and their families. Support for adequate income (decent wages and/or income support) is also crucial. As we have set out in the EAPN response to the consultation on the Action Plan to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights, the approach must recognize the multidimensionality of poverty. This requires an integrated approach rooted in children’s rights, within an overarching EU antipoverty strategy for all groups.
In sum, EAPN fully supports the common submission developed by the Investing in Children Alliance, urging the Commission to:
Commit to a rights-based, integrated approach to tackle child poverty in the EU and broaden the scope of the Child Guarantee and the Council Recommendation by:
- Proposing that the multiannual strategies are built around the three pillars of the 2013 Investing in Children
- Incorporating parents’ access to resources (pillar 1), and children’s access to decision making (pillar 3) in the Child Guarantee Council Recommendation
