We work with children and teenagers to help amplify their voices within EU decision-making. The plans and strategies that guide us in this work are co-created in consultation with EU children and teens.
This second Work Plan sets out the topic areas we will work on together with children over 2025-2026.
The aim is to match children's priorities with those of the Commission to ensure that their input can feed into policy-making or other EU initiatives.
What's in the 2025-2026 Plan
Equal opportunities and social inclusion- Consultation: All EU children can share their experiences, perceptions and views on how poverty affects their lives and what could be improved. This will help EU policymakers evaluate the European Child Guarantee and EU Strategy on the Rights of the child.
Mental health and well-being- Consultation: All EU children can share their views on the impact of the online environment on mental health, access to services, and what can be improved. This will be linked to the Commission's EU-wide study on how social media affects mental health.
- Peer visit: Member children will meet to explore how they can support each other's mental health in schools and communities.
Online safety- Consultation: EU children can share their views about the impact of the online environment, including social media, access to services, and what can be improved.
- Peer visit: Member children from different countries will meet to share ideas about online safety and digital rights.
Climate action- Study visit: Member children will focus on learning about climate action and what they can do to help protect the environment.
Other activities- Study visit: Member children will visit a country to see how child participation impacts policy-making at the local and national levels.
- Easy-to-read policies: Co-creating and improving child-friendly versions of important policy documents and reports, together with children.
The full 2025-2026 Work Plan
The printable Work Plan document provides more information on the activities, proposed timelines and who is involved.
This includes details on the different formats and methods to consult children, and provide them with learning opportunities.
Co-creating the Plan with children
Co-creation of each Work Plan takes months, and is an inter-generational group effort!
This includes our child members, Advisory Board and Children's Panel, our Secretariat, experts and partners, and people from the European Commission.
