On 8 January, the Council of the EU’s Working Party on Social Questions will discuss draft Council conclusions on investing in children and combating child poverty in the EU, prepared by the incoming Cyprus Presidency.
According to a draft set of conclusions entitled ‘Investing in children: strengthening child well-being, social inclusion and combating child poverty in the European Union’ dated 16 December, Member States should refer to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s commitment to developing an ambitious EU anti-poverty strategy, with a plan to eradicate poverty by 2050. During her State of the Union address, the President also stressed the urgent need to strengthen the European Child Guarantee.
The future European strategy to combat poverty “should serve as a key instrument to break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion and to support the achievement of the Union’s 2030 headline target and 2050 ambition”, suggests the 16 December text. This strategy should play a crucial role in promoting children’s well-being, tackling the root causes of poverty through a holistic approach, strengthening social inclusion and delivering on the EU’s commitment to equality and social justice.
Children living in poverty start life with a disadvantage that has long-term consequences for their development and future prospects. “[And this] generates a [...] cost. On average in the EU, it is estimated to amount to a loss of 3.4% of GDP annually”.
The draft text therefore calls on Member States, “in accordance with their competences and taking into account national circumstances”, to promote the well-being of children by strengthening economic resilience, to accelerate progress towards the EU target on child poverty by 2030, and to develop the skills needed by children and young people in the EU to succeed in their educational and professional careers.
The text also argues in favour of strengthening the implementation of the Council Recommendation establishing a European guarantee for children or of adequately financing policies supporting the well-being of children, in particular through EU funding. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)