On Tuesday 18 March, the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) and Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) organised a joint hearing on the protection and promotion of the rights of children in alternative care.
“Children in alternative care in Europe face many common problems, whatever country they come from. These children often feel that their voice is not heard and that they cannot hope for a better future”, said Ewa Kopacz (EPP, Polish), who initiated this hearing, which examines the situation of one in a hundred children in the European Union.
Several experts have highlighted the lack of harmonisation within the European Union. The representative of SOS Children’s Villages International, Maria Dantcheva, called for “unified principles for quality care to be established at EU level”. In particular, she pointed to the disparities in standards and conditions for placement in foster families or institutions.
Independent researcher and policy analyst Daja Wenke sounded the alarm that “few Member States have adopted guidelines on determining the best interests of the child”, despite the fact that this is a major principle in international law.
Caterina Chinnici (EPP, Italian) called on the European Commission to play a more active role: “Even if this is not an EU competence, don’t you think the Commission could draw up recommendations to ensure greater uniformity in the protection of minors?”
The shortage of foster families was a major topic of discussion.
Kathleen Funchion (The Left, Irish), for example, questioned the experts on how to encourage foster care.
According to Trinity College Dublin professor and social policy specialist Robbie Gilligan, “we need to develop specific support systems for foster care, because it has particular dynamics that need to be supported”.
The issue of transition to adulthood also raised concerns. “Most young people in Europe leave home at an average age of 26, but children in care have to fend for themselves at 18”, said Robbie Gilligan. He recommended extended support up to the age of 25 to avoid increasing the risk of job insecurity.
In addition, some MEPs shared national initiatives.
Marlena Maląg (ECR, Polish) mentioned the reforms carried out in Poland to improve the follow-up of children in alternative care, while Hristo Petrov (Renew Europe, Bulgarian) called for better integration of young people leaving institutions into higher education and employment.
The European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, pointed out that European funds were available to improve the protection of children in alternative care, in particular through the ‘Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values’ programme and the ‘European Child Guarantee’.
He also called for an integrated approach involving the various players, from European institutions to local services. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)