The European Commission has launched a public consultation to strengthen the European Child Guarantee (ECG), open until 9 April 2026.
The initiative aims to reinforce national and local implementation of the ECG and improve access to essential services for children in need, including childcare, education, healthcare, nutrition, and housing.
Despite these efforts, child poverty remains a persistent challenge across Europe. The ECG—established following a recommendation by the Council of the European Union—is not legally binding but plays an important role in shaping national policies.
Through political commitment, national action plans, monitoring, and alignment with EU funding instruments such as the European Social Fund Plus, Member States are encouraged to strengthen support systems for vulnerable children.
The updated monitoring framework (Autumn 2025) highlights a significant gap: mental health is only minimally addressed, despite growing concerns.
Recent reports by the World Health Organization underline the urgency of integrating children’s mental health into social inclusion policies.
In response, EFPA has contributed to the consultation, calling for a stronger and more explicit focus on mental health within the Child Guarantee. Key recommendations include:
- Ensuring that access to healthcare explicitly covers mental health promotion, prevention, early identification, and treatment, particularly through primary care services.
- Strengthening the role of schools in supporting well-being, including access to psychologists or counsellors and whole-school approaches to mental health.
- Improving cooperation between health, education, and social services to ensure effective referral pathways and integrated local support for children in need.
These proposals aim to ensure that mental health is fully embedded in efforts to combat child poverty and promote the well-being of all children across Europe.
For the full EFPA contribution, please consult the complete document.