The European Child Guarantee is an EU plan that aims to make sure every child can grow up healthy, safe, supported and included, no matter their family’s income or background.
It especially helps children who are more at risk of poverty or being left out. This includes children with disabilities, children from disadvantaged families or in care, homeless children, and migrant or refugee children.
As part of a recent review of the plan, children across Europe were also asked to share their experiences from within their countries and communities.
What children said
More than 41,000 children across the EU shared their opinions through surveys, interviews and group discussions organised by our Platform.
Many children said that life still does not feel fair for everyone. They explained that getting help often depends on whether families can afford it and whether support is available quickly and nearby.
Children want adults to:
- act faster when help is needed
- make services and activities easier and cheaper to access
- make sure support works in real life, not just on paper
- listen to children’s opinions and include them in decisions
Strengthening the European Child Guarantee
Combining information and data from EU countries, experts and children, the EU created a report showing:
- what progress countries have made
- what problems still exist
- what should happen next
How countries have improved support
Since the Guarantee started in 2021, many countries have introduced new projects and services, including:
mobile healthcare services for remote areas
- free health check programmes
- safer internet programmes
- food distribution projects and bigger school meal programmes
- more support for foster families
- better cooperation between schools, local authorities, community groups, health and social workers
What happens next
Future work will focus on making support easier to access, improving services and trying to reach children earlier, before problems become more serious. Another goal is to better connect support for children and young adults, helping young people move from school into training, university or work.
The report encourages EU countries to:
- regularly ask children for feedback
- involve children in creating the policies and services that affect them
- clearly show how children’s ideas influence decisions
Planned future actions include:
- improving childcare and early education
- expanding school meal programmes
- improving mental health support in schools and communities
- increasing children’s access to psychologists, counsellors and healthcare
- helping schools provide more learning support and trusted adults
- creating stronger protection against cyberbullying and harmful online content
- making online and gaming spaces safer for children
- improving housing support and reducing child homelessness
- providing more support for young people leaving care
- helping families learn about available support
- further improving cooperation between schools, healthcare and social services
Our Platform will continue contributing to the work of the European Child Guarantee, to bring children's needs and voices closer to decision-makers.