European child guarantee.
Date: 2021-03-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Subjects: European Social Fund, child protection, children's rights, economic integration, education, health policy, social integration

European
Child  
Guarantee

24 March 2021
#EUChildGuarantee 
#EUChildRights    

EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child Part 2:  
socio-economic inclusion, health and education  

Children in need

In 2019, 22.2% of children (under 18s) in the EU 
were living in households at risk of poverty or 
social exclusion. That amounts to nearly  
18 million children in need. 

SOCIAL  
EXCLUSION 

Around 60% 
of Roma 
children live in 
severe material 
deprivation and 80% are at risk 
of poverty or social exclusion

We have to  
BREAK THE CYCLE 
of poverty and social 
exclusion across 
generations

AFFECTS 
SCHOOL 
PERFORMANCE 
AND HEALTH

DROP 
OUT OF 
SCHOOL 

POVERTY

LONG-TERM 
UNEMPLOYED

European Pillar of Social Rights  
Principle 11:  
Childcare and support to children

[...] Children from disadvantaged 
backgrounds have the right to specific 
measures to enhance equal opportunities.

Children at risk 
of poverty or 
social exclusion 
are twice as likely 
to have unmet 
medical needs 

than children from more 
affluent families 

9

10

11

12

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The European Child Guarantee provides guidance and tools for Member States to support children in need: 
persons under the age of 18 who are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Member States should take 
into account the specific needs of those from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as those experiencing 
homelessness, disabilities, with precarious family situations, migrant, minority racial or ethnic backgrounds or 
those in alternative care.

Member States should guarantee
Free and effective access for children in need to:

early 
childhood 
education 
and care

education 
and school-
based 
activities

at least  
one healthy  
meal each  
school day 

healthcare

Effective access for children in need to:

healthy 
nutrition 

adequate 
housing

19.9% of learners with 
disabilities leave early from 
education and training, 
compared to 9% of pupils 
without disabilities

EU funds

Member States most affected must spend 5% of their allocated funds under the European Social Fund Plus 
on fighting child poverty and social exclusion. Member States can also make use of the European Regional 
Development Fund, InvestEU and the Recovery and Resilience Facility to fund measures combatting 
child poverty and social exclusion.

Pilot programmes 

The Commission has been working with UNICEF on pilot child guarantee programmes in 7 Member States 

For example in 
Bulgaria…

they are piloting 
a home visiting 
service for 
caregivers and 
pregnant women, with a particular focus 
on families in precarious situations and 
children with disabilities. 

And in Greece… 

they are piloting an inclusive education 
programme ensuring quality education for all 
children, including those with disabilities, in 
families or in institutional care and migrant 
children. 

© European Union, 2021
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