In the European Union, close to one in four children remain at risk of poverty and social exclusion. This means that not all children in the EU have access to services they need for their well-being and development. 

To address this situation, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, in her Political Guidelines, announced the adoption of a Child Guarantee to help ensuring that every child in Europe at risk of poverty or social exclusion has access to the “most basic of rights like health care and education”.  

The Child Guarantee will be an important instrument of the upcoming comprehensive EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, also to be adopted during the first quarter of 2021. This strategy sets out to pool all existing and upcoming EU initiatives and actions protecting and supporting children in one coherent and coordinated policy framework. 

The European Commission is seeking the views of national/local administrations, service providers, citizens – including children – and civil society on ensuring basic services for all children in need in Europe.  

The consultation runs until 7 October 2020. 

Give your feedback – European Child Guarantee 

Policy context – Child guarantee for vulnerable children