Policy brief: Strengthening health in the European Child Guarantee

The European Child Guarantee takes a comprehensive approach to fighting child poverty by addressing health and the broader determinants of children’s wellbeing. Access to healthcare, social and education services, healthy food, healthy housing, physical activity, recreational time, commercial influence and living in a pollution-free environment are all factors playing a role in children’s wellbeing. Strengthening the ECG is necessary to achieve the 2030 European Pillar of Social Rights's target to lift 5 million children out of poverty.

The challenges ahead of us are enormous. Currently, 24.8% of children in Europe are still at risk of poverty or social exclusion. In recent years, the percentage of children at risk of poverty has even increased in some countries.

The uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, climate change risks, the rising cost of living, socioeconomic uncertainties, and the increased use of social media all impact children’s physical and mental health. Furthermore, efforts to strengthen the European Child Guarantee need to consider the new Preparedness Union Strategy to boost resilience, as well as the EU Skills Union. Efforts to strengthen the Child Guarantee have to take into consideration this evolving context.

With this policy brief, EuroHealthNet puts forward considerations to strengthen the Child Guarantee's measures to improve children’s health and wellbeing. Our recommendations represent the perspectives of health organisations at both national, regional and local levels.