14 June 2023 was the second anniversary of the European Child Guarantee, highlighting direct action undertaken at local, national and EU-wide level to improve the lives of at-risk children across Europe. Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, marked the occasion by discussing progress with the Child Guarantee Coordinators.   

The Child Guarantee: providing vital assistance to children in need  

20 million children in the EU are at risk of poverty and social exclusion – nearly one in every four. This includes children from an ethnic or migrant background, children with disabilities, and children in alternative care. Launched in 2021, the objective of the European Child Guarantee is to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing the access of children in need – persons under the age of 18 years who are at risk of poverty or social exclusion – to early childhood education and care, education, healthcare, nutrition and housing. 

The European Commission has partnered with the UNICEF to test how the European Child Guarantee could work in practice. As part of this engagement, UNICEF worked with national and local governments from seven EU Member States and has contributed to the development of the national action plans on implementation of the European Child Guarantee. 

ESF+ support to tackle child poverty and social exclusion 

25 Member States are using ESF+ resources to tackle child poverty, and all Member States are required to dedicate part of their ESF+ funding for this purpose. 11 countries experience higher rates of child poverty based on AROPE figures and are obliged to allocate at least five per cent of their total ESF+ budgets to implement the Child Guarantee. In total, the ESF+ will provide €6.7 billion over the 2021-2027 programming period to fight child poverty. The funds will be invested in numerous activities, such as combatting early school leaving, tackling the educational segregation of marginalised communities such as Roma children, ensuring children’s access to affordable, quality early-childhood education and care, or improving a child’s access to healthcare, decent housing and adequate nutrition.  

Some examples of ESF-funded projects include:  

• Greece’s ‘Children’s Acquaintance with Sport’ project supports youth empowerment, confidence, and social connection. The project teaches children the benefits of physical activity and promotes an active lifestyle, helping some of the most deprived children in Western Greece to live healthier lives. 

• Italy’s ‘Nidi Gratis’ project offers deprived families free access to childcare for children up to the age of three. The project aims at providing childcare and support to children from disadvantaged background, as well as work-life balance and active support to employment and particularly to women employment. So far, the project has facilitated free access to preschool education (children 0-3) for over 30 000 low-income households. 

• Czechia's 'Experience to Understanding’ project has published 30 teaching methodologies, supplemented by lesson plans, worksheets and even an app. These materials support children with hearing impairments, turning their classrooms into a more inclusive environment.

• Romania’s 'Integrated community services’ project provides support services to over 100 marginalised communities. The project aims to remedy low levels of education and reduced access to social and medical services by offering school counselling, career guidance, community nursing and social services. 

Commissioner Schmit said: 'By providing children in need with free and effective access to essential services like childcare, school meals and healthcare we can offer them a brighter future. I had the privilege to visit a child guarantee pilot project recently in Croatia. It was heart-warming to meet the children who are benefitting from this project and see how they are thriving.'