To contribute to the drafting of the related Commission communication and recommendation on child poverty, which was expected for 2013.
The European Parliament resolution of 24 November 2015 on reducing inequalities with a special focus on child poverty (2014/2237(INI)) takes on board several suggestions made in the CoR opinion:
• point 2 of the opinion, adopted in the final resolution as recital T: "whereas local and regional authorities are at the forefront of work to tackle child poverty and exploitation and therefore have a crucial responsibility in preventing marginalisation and social exclusion";
• parts of point 8 of the opinion have been incorporated in recital Q: "whereas children from vulnerable population groups are more at risk of marginalisation, poverty and social exclusion";
• point 9 of the opinion, adopted in the final resolution as recital AI: "whereas a strong policy focus on child poverty in recent years within the EU and supportive political statements by EU Heads of State have not led to significant reductions in the levels of child poverty";
• points 2 and 10 of the opinion, adopted in the final resolution as recital AB: "whereas child poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon that requires a multi-dimensional response; whereas employment is one important factor, but does not always guarantee a route out of poverty for the family of the children concerned";
• point 37 of the opinion, adopted in the final resolution as recital AK: "whereas environmental issues such as pollution, traffic, contaminated land and unsafe drinking water often disproportionately affect children living in poverty";
• point 29 of the opinion has been included in paragraph 9: "Encourages the Member States and the Commission to agree on EU standards or establish an agreed methodology for determining the cost of raising a child and for defining adequate resources to prevent and combat child poverty" (the EP added the word "raising");
• point 11 of the opinion, adopted in the final resolution as paragraph 16: "Calls on Member States to recognise that child poverty and social exclusion are key barriers to overcome if they are to achieve their Europe 2020 targets in relation to employment rates, investment in research, development, energy and sustainable development";
• point 26 of the opinion, adopted in the final resolution as paragraph 6: "Reiterates the importance of preventive public policies investing in sensible child welfare policies that support the development of empowered individuals, capable of integrating in society and into the labour market, rather than focusing on the consequences of their social exclusion and poverty";
• point 32 of the opinion, adopted in the final resolution as paragraph 13: "Recommends that all children have access to good quality services at this crucial stage in their development; considers that health, education, parenting and family support, housing and protection are key services which are most often delivered by local and regional authorities";
• point 37 of the opinion, adopted in the final resolution as paragraph 18: "Calls on the Member States to avoid ghettoisation of children experiencing poverty and social exclusion, […] by introducing minimum standards for children's housing, taking into account the best interests of the child".
The EP invited the Committee of the Regions to draw up an opinion on investing in children (paragraph 49 of the EP Resolution).
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- reinforces how Local and Regional Authorities are at the forefront of work to tackle child poverty and exploitation, and highlights their crucial responsibility in preventing marginalisation and social exclusion; agrees that child poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon that requires a multi-dimensional response, and proposes that improvements in a small number of key areas such as agreeing minimum income and quality standards can be vital to tackling child poverty;
- emphasises the importance of paid work, but also notes that employment alone does not guarantee a route out of poverty and that further action is required to combat in-work poverty;
- emphasises that all Member States should recognise that child poverty and social exclusion are key barriers to overcome if they are to achieve their Europe 2020 targets in relation to employment rate, investment in research and development, and energy and sustainable development;
- expresses its concern that the economic and financial crisis, and the response of some Member States, is leading to increased levels of absolute poverty, an increase in in-work poverty levels and rising youth unemployment.