In 2019, the European Commission announced the creation of a European Child Guarantee with a view to ensuring that every child in Europe at risk of poverty or social exclusion has access to the most basic of rights like healthcare and education.

The objective of the European Child Guarantee, which was adopted by the EU Council on June 14, 2021 is to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing the access of children in need to a set of key services:

  • early childhood education and care
  • education (including school-based activities)
  • healthcare
  • nutrition
  • housing

While most children in the EU already have access to these services, inclusive and truly universal access is vital for ensuring equal opportunities for all children, and in particular those who experience social exclusion due to poverty or other forms of a disadvantage.

The European Child Guarantee itself will be effective only within a broader set of integrated measures, as outlined in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, and within a broader policy framework of the EU strategy on the Rights of the Child, and will contribute to achieving the headline target of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion.