Quality of Life for Children is Improving Here

The percentage of children classified as ‘severely deprived’ has decreased in Europe – providing evidence that the 2015 Child Guarantee National Action Plan is working across most Member States.

“The European Parliament considers the right to free and universal education, health and social security systems as basic conditions for combating poverty, in particular among children; bearing in mind this objective, calls on the Commission and the Member States […] to introduce a child guarantee so that every child in poverty can have access to free healthcare, free education, free childcare, decent housing and adequate nutrition,” states the European Parliament’s 2015 resolution.

The resolution was adopted by all 27 member states. A recent EU-wide study revealed the following positive trends: there was a decrease in the percentage of children living in households with very low income, from 19.9 percent in 2010 to 17.7 percent in 2021. There was an even greater decrease in the percentage of children living with severe deprivation – defined by little to no access to education and harsh living conditions, among others – from 22.8 percent in 2009 to 14.6 percent in 2021.

The hope is that the action plan continues to make a positive difference throughout Europe in the years to come. There will also be a more focused effort on Ukrainian children and other refugees as well as a greater focus on the disparities that exist among Member States in their approach to the Child Guarantee National Action Plan.