Brussels, 2 May 2024
The “European Child Guarantee: from engagement to reality” conference, opened by the Minister for Social Integration and the Fight against Poverty, took place at the Egmont Palace in Brussels on 2 and 3 May 2024. The event was attended by H.M. Queen Mathilde, demonstrating the royal commitment to the fight against child poverty.
The conference, organised by the Public Planning Service (PPS) Social Integration, opened with a presentation of the results of the “Europe Kids Want” consultation, followed by a presentation by the NGO Save The Children on recent child poverty statistics, highlighting the crucial role of national social protection systems and the European Child Guarantee.
The national coordinators of the European Child Guarantee, together with European politicians and NGOs, then assessed the progress made by Member States in the fight against child poverty, in a context where almost 20 million children under the age of 18 were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the European Union in 2022.
Mid-term review
Three years after the adoption of the European Child Guarantee by the Council of the European Union in June 2021, participants reviewed the progress made so far in its implementation. Discussions focused on the measures taken by EU Member States to guarantee access to quality education, healthcare, sufficient and healthy food and adequate housing. These four pillars constitute the axes of the fight against child poverty, as defined in the European recommendation and the Belgian National Action Plan.
Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium honoured the discussions with her presence, confirming the importance of this conference to the fight against child poverty in Europe.
A space for discussion
What challenges have the European Child Guarantee coordinators faced and how have they overcome them? How was the follow-up in terms of mid-term reports? These questions were at the heart of the afternoon’s discussions. A large number of European coordinators came to share their experiences and learn about specific tools that could be useful for evaluating their actions. This in-depth dialogue highlighted the importance of coordination and communication for the effective implementation of the Child Guarantee.
On 3 May, the day will be devoted to more technical working sessions, led by the Office of Birth and Childhood (ONE – Wallonia-Brussels Federation) and Flanders.
Source – Belgian EU Presidency