2015 Eurochild Report on the European Semester

Eurochild carried out the assessment of the 2015 European Semester with the help of its member organisations. The work draws on the experience of the past four years’ (2011 - 2014) analysis of the National Reform Programmes (NRPs) of EU Member States, with an extended scope this year. In this year’s analysis we particularly assess the extent to which the European Commission ‘Recommendation on Investing in Children: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage’ (2013) has been implemented across the EU and whether the European Semester process is helping or hindering the achievement of positive outcomes for children.

The 2015 Eurochild Report on the European Semester contributes to the network’s efforts to put children at the heart of policy making. It is based on the assessment of 25 contributors from 23 EU Member States. The compiled analysis of responses provides an EU-wide overview of the commitment to investing in children and identifies necessary changes to improve the impact of the Semester process. The analysis is also intended to feed into the 2016 European Semester and mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy.

The report recognises  a weakening social dimension of the Euro­pean Semester in 2015 overall, and a lack of focus on poli­cies addressing child poverty in particular. Both EU institu­tions and Member States governments share responsibility for the weakened political prioritisation of child poverty. At the European level a lot of uncertainty exists around the fu­ture of Europe 2020, an integrated strategy which was de­signed to monitor progress on a broad range of areas from energy, environment and research to education, youth, labour market policies and social inclusion.

The Semester process is not helping enough to counter negative trends in relation to child poverty in Europe. Economic growth and employment have supremacy, and the very tool designed to implement the integrated strategy - the European Semester - is becoming less coherent.

Key Recommendations:

1. Invest in national child-focused policies

A key message of this report is that Member States need to prioritise investment – of both national and EU resources – in children, in line with national integrated strategies for tackling child poverty and promoting children’s well-be­ing. If efforts are fragmented, piecemeal or not backed up by adequate funding they will be insufficient and ineffective.

2. Strengthen the social dimension of macroeconomic governance ensuring it supports investment in children

Whilst primarily a macro-economic govern­ance tool, the European Semester needs to take better account of its social impact. It should consider how Member States are achieving all Europe 2020 targets and main­tain poverty reduction as a political priority, essentially through monitoring how Member States are delivering on tackling child poverty and promoting child well-being.

3. Ensure robust EU social policy coordination

Eurochild calls for a reinforced social policies pillar for the EU that prioritises child pov­erty. An inclusive Europe goes beyond job creation, skills, or long-term unemployment. To address complex social challenges compre­hensive approaches rooted in local realities are required. There is a need for the EU social policy space to support innovation and mutual learning and follow through of implementation of existing policy guidance. Eurochild also urges the EU to follow up on the call it made to Member States in 2013 and de­sign a Roadmap to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Investing in Children Recommendation.

4. Create ownership through improved stakeholder engagement

The National Reform Programmes are an opportunity for short-term strategic plan­ning to achieve better long-term outcomes. The breadth and quality of stakeholder en­gagement will not only improve the quality of the plans, but also the level of ownership and the likelihood of effective implemen­tation. It is important to involve relevant ministries, parliaments, sub-national government and local authorities as well as civil society. To ensure effective approaches to tackle child poverty and social exclusion, civil society organisations working with and for children should be supported in their involvement in the European Semester.

5. Make better use of EU funding to stimulate investment in children

There are already significant funds availa­ble at EU level that, if effectively deployed, can stimulate structural reforms and investment in child and family services that help address child poverty and social exclusion. The European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund (European Structural and Investment Funds - ESIF) can be used in a complementary way to support inclusive growth. Their deployment is conditional on Member States having in place com­prehensive poverty reduction strategies, which should include a focus on children and families. The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) supports EU countries’ actions to provide mate­rial assistance to the most deprived, including children. Finally, loans available through the European Fund for Strategic Investment, and the European Investment Bank could be mobilised within an overall strategy which prioritises investment in children. 

[Copied from the document]

Read the full report here.

Attachment Size
2015 Eurochild Report on the European Semester1.88 MB 1.88 MB

Childhub

You might like..

0
61
Assess the progress of EU Member States in implementing the European Commission ‘Recommendation on Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage’ and the ‘European Pillar of Social Rights’ (particularly Principle 11). Evaluate the…
0
1
At the beginning of November a  two-day international conference was held on children’s right in Strasbourg with approximately 300 participants. The presentations and talks focused on the European states’ performances regarding  the…
0
3
The purpose of this report is to understand how violence occurs and to offer the proper tools to stop the violent behavior even before it starts. The analysis focuses on attitudes and behaviours towards violence and offers a clear perspective…
0
69
The purpose of this report is to understand how violence occurs and to offer the proper tools to stop the violent behavior even before it starts. The analysis focuses on attitudes and behaviours towards violence and offers a clear perspective…
0
3
This child-friendly resource explains the Recommendation on Investing in Children, which was produced originally by the European Commission. A resource developed, with children, for children! This child friendly version of the Recommendation…
0
In Eurochild’s  “Children's Rights: Political will or won't?” report, 38 Eurochild members in 26 countries provide recommendations on how to address among others, child poverty and social exclusion, and discrimination. It also assesses whether…
no
0
The official page of the European Union published an article about the measures taken by the EU and the European Parliament to protect children and promote their well-being. Children’ rights and protection as an EU priority The protection and…
0
6
Eurochild member Plataforma de Infancia releases #PropuestasDeInfancia to consolidate national progress made in childhood policies. 2023 is the last year of the current Spanish legislature. It is also the year in…
0
2
What should a children’s social worker do with vulnerable kids far from their home country? How is it possible (if it is) to handle a teenager with totally different cultural background, who is perhaps not able to express himself fully in English?…
0
137
This publication aims to inform the public about various facets of commercial sexual exploitation of children, by answering a series of questions designed to popularize knowledge about this phenomenon.
no
0
656
The position of women and violence against them is in a never more difficult time. The situation is particularly difficult and pronounced now, at a time of pandemic when the need for epidemiological measures has increased, and the one that hardest…
0
2
This declaration has been drafted by a team of young people in collaboration with staff of the Eurochild secretariat, with input from participants of the Eurochild conference 2016 ‘Children’s Rights Matter: Why Europe Needs to…
0
The 90-minute conversation aims to offer assistance and guidance on responding and communicating effectively when there is a suspicion of sexual abuse involving a child. You will be able to join the live conversation on the Facebook page of…
0
6
Growing inequality affects children’s access to healthcare and education; poverty continues to remain persistently high among children (24%), compared to the adult population (22%). Despite this, the European Semester – the European framework for…
0
11
Better data is needed to make sure allocated funding and the right interventions go where it is most needed. Watch the video message from Eurochild President H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca for the conference "…