1. Combating poverty in Europe People2People Programme Workshop: Child Poverty Mieke Schuurman 20 October 2009 DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

2. What I will be sharing with you UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Framework on Child Poverty EU Competence and Definition of Child Poverty Process in DG EMPL to combat child poverty and social exclusion: NAPs/inclusion, OMC, Lisbon Strategy Groups at most risk and thematic areas in relation to child poverty Questions and Discussion Formulation of Key Recommendations DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

3. UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Framework Articles 2,3,6,12: General Principles of the UN CRC : Non-discrimination; Best Interests of the child; right to Life and Development; right to Participation Art. 27: right of children to adequate standard of living Art. 26: right of children to benefit from social security Art. 24: right of children to enjoy the highest level of health possible and access to health services Art. 28/29: right of the child to education Art. 23: Rights of handicapped children Art. 31: Right of the child to play DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

4. EU’s competence and Political commitment to combat child poverty EC Legal base to work on child poverty: Articles 13 (non-discrimination), 136 and 137 EC (combating social exclusion) ; Charter of Fundamental Rights Art. 24 EU Political commitment to focus on target groups such as children and giving all of them equal opportunities: European Councils of 2005, 2006, 2007. European Council in spring 2009: “Member States would aim in particular at pursuing poverty reduction and social cohesion, through reinforced comprehensive strategies to combat and prevent poverty and social exclusion of children, including strengthened provision of accessible and affordable quality child care” DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

5. EU definition of child poverty rates Relative definition of poverty: “the share of persons with a disposable income below 60% of the national median” Child poverty is measured by using Indicators including specific age breakdowns for children DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

6. Child Poverty Facts within the EU 19% of children aged 0-17 at risk of poverty in the 27 Member States of the EU, against 16% for the overall population. Groups at most risk of poverty: Single parent families Large families Children with special needs Families of ethnic minorities Workless households DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

7. DG EMPL Process to combat child poverty and social exclusion Open Method of Coordination (OMC) – Lisbon Strategy Common objectives for the OMC: Social cohesion; gender equality; interaction between econ, social and development priorities; good governance. Specific objectives for the OMC: Social inclusion; pensions; healthcare and long-term care. DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

8. National Action Plans on Social Inclusion Biannual National Strategic Reports, latest 2008-2010, which include:  National Action Plans for Social Inclusion (NAPs), including measures relevant for children: o Employment measures, e.g. reconciliation of work and family life o Equal access to Education and address school drop-outs o Combating Homelessness o Access to Health o Measures to combat violence, abuse and exploitation and trafficking of children o Measures targetting Roma population DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

9. Recommendations of the Social Protection Committee Setting for the reduction of child poverty quantified objectives Assessing the impact of policies on child poverty Monitoring child poverty and well-being should be multi- dimensional and should provide a comparative analysis. Reinforcing statistical capacity Link these recommendations with the implementation of the Commission Communication towards an EU Strategy on Children’s Rights (July 2006). DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

10. Assistance to enlargement countries to combat poverty Joint Inclusion Memorandum (JIM): to assist candidate countries to combat poverty and social exclusion – Croatia Studies on social protection and social inclusion in Western Balkans: to inform the process of the accession perspective of these countries DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

11. Thematic areas in relation to child poverty Youth: European Youth Pact, integral part of Lisbon Strategy Homelessness, including street children Vulnerable groups of children (Roma, ethnic minorities/migrants, etc.): many problems addressing child poverty are linked to improving child protection Children’s health: EU focus primarily on early childhood Education: equal access, tackle school drop-outs DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

12. 2010 European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion Providing Opportunities to combating Child Poverty and Social Exclusion Commission aims for a political declaration and a renewed commitment of the EU Member States to combat child poverty (by end of 2010) DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty

13. Questions and Discussion DG Enlargement workshop Child Poverty