Child poverty: a priority for the European Union

Committee of the RegionsECOS – 11th Commission meeting

2 December 2012

Paloma Escudero, ED UNICEF Spain

1. The problem: Child poverty is a reality in the EU

2. A step forward: an EU Recommendation on child poverty

3. The contribution of regional and local authorities

4. An example from Spain 5. What can the CoRs do?

1.1 The problem: child poverty is a reality in the EU

1.2 Impact of the economic crisis

1.3 To be a child in poverty in the EU• Not necessarily hungry, but greater possibility of being

malnourished.• Not necessarily denied access to education, but much more

difficulty affording it, more possibilities of early school drop out and less opportunities of achieving higher education.

• More exposed to bad house condition (cold, overcrowding …) • More exposed to violence or lack of protection• Lose the unique window of opportunities of childhood and for

society

2.1 Towards an EC Recommendation on child poverty and well-being

EU2020 and the Objective 5: a commitment to reduce poverty and social exclusion no specific target or sub-targets to reduce child poverty

July-Dec 2010: Belgian Presidency with UNICEF and Eurochild- Background report: Call for an EU Recommendation on child poverty and well being! and a Trio

Presindency Declaration (Spain, Belgium and Hungary)

- Definition of the three pillars structure

• 17 July 2011: Council Conclusions• at least 20 million children are at risk of poverty in the EU • child poverty & well being is multidimensional comprehensive approach• increased growth did not have a substantial impact on levels of child poverty (2000 – 2008) • Specific groups of children are at risk of more severe or extreme poverty

2.2 An EC Recommendation on child poverty and well-being in 2012

The structure of the EU Recommendation:

•A human rights based approach - child poverty is more than jobs and housing!•3 Pillars: access to adequate resources

access to services active participation of children and young

2.3 Attention now needs to focus on ensuring the EC Recommendation puts in place:

a) An EU sub-target on child poverty and social exclusion linked to the Europe 2020 targets

b) An effective set of indicators and reporting mechanism for monitoring progress on child poverty and well-being on a regular basis.

c) Encourages Member States to adopt comprehensive national strategies to combat child poverty and social exclusion

2. 4 The implementation of an accurate EC Recommendation

EU Recommendation: 3 pillars approach

- EU 2020Clear targets - nationalindicators - local regional (where

applicable)

Reporting mechanism and Monitoring Framework

National Authority with mixed governance (Ministries of Economics, Labour, Edu, Health, Social Affairs ... + local and regional authorithies + representation of civil society)

3. The contribution of regional and local authorities: child poverty is a shared responsibilitya) Implementation of regional and local strategiesb) Effective mainstreaming and coordination at

regional and local levelc) Regular monitoring and evaluationd) Mobilization of all actorse) Ensuring effective deliveryf) Promoting best practice in the use of structural

funds

4.1 The situation in Spain High level of child poverty: more than 2 million

children and 26,2 % of child population (+ 2,5% in 2010)

Low impact of social transfers in reducing child poverty (less than in the others age groups)

High impact of the social and economic crisis on households with children

Children are specifically mentioned in NPR but no sub-target for child poverty

4.2 The situation in SpainBut recent political commitments (at national, regional and local level):•The representatives of the mayor political parties in some regions signed, before the local and regional elections, a Regional Pact on Childhood that includes a commitment to tackle child poverty at regional and local level.•A National Strategy against Child Poverty specifically appears on the political programmes for general elections of PP, PSOE, IU and CiU, the major parliament forces of the new legislature.

5.1 What can the CoRs do?

Adoption of a CoR Opinion on child poverty in February 2012 with clear asks on what the EC Recommendation should include:

1. Adoption of the three pillars

2. Adoption by all the Member States of comprehensive national, regional and local strategies against child poverty and social exclusion.

3. En EU sub-target on child poverty which is linked to the EU 2020 targets.

4. An effective set of indicators and regular reporting mechanism on child poverty.

5.2 What can local and regional authorities do?

The real chance to reduce child poverty in the EU is at regional and local level.

The final delivery is in your hands through committed strategies and plans in every region in the EU.

Sylvie FouetAdviser

UNICEF Brussels14 July 2010

Merci

Thank You