Poltics
Together with our participants, we analysed whether the voices and views of children are prioritised in the European Semester process
As segment of the (In)visible Children – Eurochild 2022 document on children in need across Europe, Eurochild commented on the development of the implementation of the European Semester across the different international locations.
The European Semester Cycle drives EU policy coordination and nationwide policy reforms and it’s therefore fundamental that child poverty and social exclusion are prioritised in this document. Eurochild participants had been consulted to analyse the European Semester process from their point of assume.
Whereas the European Semester is directed more at original policies, probabilities are you’ll be in a position to must be taught about at the results this work has on children concretely. Nonetheless, Eurochild became as soon as disappointed to leer that only nine of the Country Drawl Suggestions include a affirm connotation to children, talked about mostly in relation to childcare, child advantages and schooling. That being said, we originate strengthen the inclusion of children’s linked indicators that offer a more ingredient-oriented overview on the anguish of children in need.
Sadly, the European Semester often portrays children only as “future workers” instead of individuals bearing rights that ought to be recognised and upheld. Furthermore, our document brings to light a lack of attention towards children’s successfully being. In fact, both social and successfully being care reforms are no longer included, whereas children’s mental successfully being has no longer been talked about sufficiently at some point of the European Semester.
Other pillars of NextGenerationEU, namely ‘create it digital’ and ‘create it green’, are additionally lacking a child glowing dimension. Eurochild identified an absence of focal point on child security and protection in our on-line world, which is especially fundamental in light of the ongoing digitalisation and its influence on children. In the same fashion, children’s environmental rights are no longer talked about.
Despite the partnership principle, nationwide civil society organisations have rarely been consulted on the annual European Semester cycle. Encouraging a meaningful participation of child rights organisation is therefore something that deserves more attention in the upcoming cycles.
In our (In)visible children document, Eurochild assessed the inclusion of children in the European Semester and highlighted a number of parts in which children would possibly maybe perchance silent be prioritised further. Whereas there are some certain highlights, the majority of the European Semester is lacking a definite and concrete focal point on children and their notify role as inclined participants of society. Especially in regards to the increasing child poverty phases across Europe, our participants identified a fundamental lack of attention on tackling this subject.
Together with our participants, we are in a position to continue to signify for determination-makers to further their efforts in bringing children at the heart of the political agenda.
