The event will be held in the European Parliament on 14 November. It will be moderated by Prof. Hugh Frazer and co-hosted by MEP Alexandra Geese (Greens/EFA) MEP Dragoș Pîslaru (Renew Europe) and MEP Brando Benifei (S&D). Representatives from the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), civil society networks and children’s rights organisations will be invited to participate in the discussion.

 

The aim is to address the fact that childhood poverty remains a huge problem across many parts of Europe. Indeed, one in four children grows up in poverty or social exclusion in the EU. To that end, Eurochild will bring the findings of its analysis on the 2019 European Semester while Bertelsmann Stiftung will present the results of a research focused on ‘Leave No Child Behind’ and the results of a comparative study on local prevention policies in twelve European member states.

 

Background

 

The next 5-year cycle of the EU offers a unique opportunity to deliver real progress on the ground. We have good EU policy guidance. In 2017, the European Parliament, Council and Commission agreed the EU Pillar of Social Rights which makes support to children and childcare one of its key principles. Already the European Commission proposals for the next 7-year EU budget explicitly mention tackling child poverty as a priority of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). This is strengthened by the European Parliament which called for a Child Guarantee and allocation of 5.9 bn EUR from the ESF+ budget to reach children most in need. A feasibility study is underway to explore how this can be implemented. The incoming European Commission already gave its political commitment to create a Child Guarantee.

 

Eurochild is collaborating with Bertelsmann Stiftung because we share a common belief that investing in children and tackling child poverty need to be prioritised in the next political cycle of the EU.  We have evidence on the situation of children across Europe, and knowledge of what works to lift children and families out of poverty.

We want to bring this to the attention of political leaders who will shape the work of the European Parliament, Commission and Council – in particular the upcoming EU Presidencies – in the next 5 years.

 

For information, please don't hesitate to contact Enrico Tormen at Policy.Intern(at)eurochild(dot)org