On Thursday 29 April, MEPs adopted a resolution on the Youth Guarantee by a relative majority (510 votes to 42 with 139 abstentions) in which they suggest that the European Commission should examine the possibility of creating a European Children’s Authority.
The role of this European Authority would be to support and monitor the implementation of the recommendations by the Member States, but also to coordinate the work at national level by facilitating the exchange of best practices, as mentioned by Dragoș Pîslaru (Renew Europe, Romania) in committee (see EUROPE 12687/13). “This does not imply any modification of the Treaty or any loss of national sovereignty, or even the creation of new competences”, said Sylvie Brunet (Renew Europe, France) in plenary session.
In his response to the parliamentarians, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, refrained from commenting on the proposal to create such an Authority, but concluded with a succinct response on the importance of the Porto Social Summit to be held on 7 and 8 May (see EUROPE 12708/15).
1,000 days
Among other proposals in the resolution, parliamentarians also call for the development of a comprehensive European approach to early childhood, focusing on the first 1,000 days, including maternal health (with an emphasis on mental health). In addition, the parliamentarians insist on the fight against the abuse and sexual exploitation of children online, which primarily affects poverty-stricken children.
The amendments of the ID group were rejected. These amendments aimed in particular at deleting any mention of the particular situation of children with an immigrant background, ethnic minorities (notably Roma) and LGBTQI+ families.
Qualitative indicators
During the debate the previous day in the evening, MEPs generally welcomed the guarantee. Lucia Nicholsonová (ECR, Slovakia), who tabled the text on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), called for Member States to take into account qualitative, not just quantitative, indicators and for NGOs and local actors to be better taken into account, especially in spending under the new European Social Fund plus (ESF+).
Katrin Langensiepen (Greens/EFA, Germany) was concerned about the impact of the pandemic, especially on children living in poverty who have lost both parents. Sandra Perreira (The Left, Portugal), for her part, denounced the responsibility of the austerity policies carried out by the European institutions.
The ID group either abstained or voted against, as did the ECR group. Some MEPs from the German, Swedish and Eastern European EPP delegations also abstained. Similarly, some Swedish and Dutch members of the Renew Europe Group. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)