In our feedback, we point out that the European Child Guarantee is one of the EU’s most important instruments for effectively tackling the multidimensional nature of child poverty. In Germany, however, it is still being implemented inadequately. The National Action Plan has provided important impetus for greater coordination and coherence – between the responsible ministries, across political levels (federal government, Länder and municipalities), and between public administration, academia and civil society. At the same time, there is still a lack of a sufficiently ambitious, measurable and reliably funded strategy with clear goals, binding commitments and sustainable financing. A systematic needs assessment involving young people, as well as a robust instrument for measuring impact, is also still missing.
In our view, a strengthened European Child Guarantee therefore needs clearer objectives, stronger governance structures and reliable funding. Particularly in Germany’s federal system, preventing child poverty should be understood as a shared public responsibility of the federal government, the Länder and the municipalities. In addition, access to benefits and support services must be improved so that children and their families actually receive the support they need and to which they are entitled. At the same time, poverty prevention should be linked more closely with education policy and combined with genuine participation by young people.
Research shows that growing up in poverty has long-term negative effects on health, education and participation in society, politics and the labour market – effects that in turn generate high follow-up costs for society. Preventing child poverty would have positive long-term effects on economic strength and democratic cohesion. If the European Child Guarantee were further developed into a binding, investment-driven and reliably funded framework, it could make an important contribution to both preventing child poverty in Europe and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.
