EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European child guarantee

 

SUMMARY OF:

Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 establishing a European Child Guarantee

Communication — EU strategy on the rights of the child

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE COMMUNICATION AND THE RECOMMENDATION?

• The European Union (EU) strategy on the rights of the child proposes new actions to better protect, promote and fulfil children’s rights.
• The European child guarantee aims to prevent and combat social exclusion of children in need by guaranteeing access to a set of key services, by combating child poverty and fostering equal opportunities.

KEY POINTS

EU strategy on the rights of the child

• The strategy brings together all new and existing EU legislative, policy and funding instruments on the rights of the child within 1 comprehensive framework.
• This strategy builds on previous European Commission communications and existing EU legislation and policy,such as the EU agenda for the rights of the child.
• It contributes to achieving the aims of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
• The strategy is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and contributes to achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals.
• It proposes a series of targeted actions across 6 thematic priority areas:
  • participation in political and democratic life;
  • socio-economic inclusion, health and education;
  • combating violence against children and ensuring child protection;
  • child-friendly justice;
  • digital and information society;
  • global dimension — supporting, protecting and empowering children globally, including during crisis and conflict.
• To support these actions, children’s rights are mainstreamed across all relevant EU policies.
• Funding for these actions is provided through a number of sources including the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) (see summary) and the European Regional Development Fund (see summary).

European child guarantee

• The European child guarantee complements the strategy on the rights of the child, and in particular the socio-economic, health and education theme.
• It puts into practice principle 11 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, on childcare and support for children.
• It applies to children under 18 at risk of poverty or social exclusion.
• It sets out a number of core recommendations for EU Member States including:
  • providing effective and free access to high quality early childhood education and care, education and school-based activities, at least 1 healthy meal on each school day and healthcare;
  • providing effective access to healthy nutrition and adequate housing;
  • breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty and disadvantage, while making the best interest of the child a primary consideration;
  • building a policy framework to identify and address financial and non-financial barriers to participation in early childhood education and care, education and school-based activities, especially for those groups of children experiencing specific disadvantages;
  • nominating a Child Guarantee Coordinator to monitor and coordinate implementation;
  • submitting national action plans for the period up to 2030 within 9 months of adopting the recommendation.
• Member States can draw on EU funding to support their actions, in particular from the ESF+ and NextGenerationEU.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• The EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European child guarantee (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 of 14 June 2021 establishing a European Child Guarantee (OJ L 223, 22.6.2021, pp. 14-23)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — EU strategy on the rights of the child (COM(2021) 142 final, 24.3.2021)

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013 (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, pp. 21-59)

Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, pp. 60-93)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: An EU Agenda for the Rights of the Child (COM(2011) 60 final, 15.2.2011)

last update 21.09.2021