In a report published on Tuesday, 29 September, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) finds that the 2013 recommendation ‘Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage’ was certainly positive but that its effects are difficult, “if not impossible”, to assess.
The recommendation was followed by action on the part of the European Commission, which sought to assist Member States in implementing the content of said recommendation. The ECA laments that this was, however, not accompanied by a roadmap with a clear implementation plan.
Furthermore, EPIC—a platform that is dedicated to investing in children and aims to provide information on policies that can combat child poverty—ultimately contains “little information regarding best practices”. Most importantly, the recommendation’s implementation is difficult to assess in the absence of a timetable and measurable objectives.
In the same vein, the ECA criticises the wording of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) with regard to the fight against child poverty for terms “of a general nature” that are used in Principle 11 of the EPSR. It also notes that the ‘European Semester’ budget process does not take sufficient account of the issue of child poverty.
Consequently, the ECA suggests that the Commission—in view of the action plan to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights planned for the beginning of next year (see EUROPE 12403/6)—should define precise objectives and actions to combat child poverty.
It thinks that the Commission should issue country-specific recommendations focusing on this topic and should do so as soon as next semester. It is expected to establish a monitoring framework for structural and investment funds.
For more information: https://bit.ly/3i98PU9 (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)