EPSCO Council adopts conclusions on Child Poverty

At its 3188th Council meeting on 4 October 2012, EU Ministers of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) adopted the Council conclusions on Tackling and Preventing Child Poverty, promoting Children’s well-being. Very little different from the draft conclusions and incorporating key messages of the Social Protection Committee, the text calls on the Member States to maintain existing political momentum to address child poverty and social exclusion across relevant policy areas in the context of the current economic crisis. Prior to the adopted conclusions, EPHA sent an Open Letter to the Ministers calling for a stronger health dimension in the pledges.


- EPHA Open Letter to the EPSCO Council.

The Council adopted conclusions on action to be taken in order to prevent and tackle child poverty and social exclusion and promote child well-being. The conclusions emphasise the need to develop a coordinated and integrated approach to addressing child poverty in a holistic manner, using adequate investment, developing data, involving stakeholders and mainstreaming child poverty and child well-being across relevant policy areas. The Commission is called upon to adopt a recommendation on child poverty as soon as possible and develop synergies between social inclusion and other policy areas.

The Social Protection Committee’s main messages on tackling and preventing child poverty, and promoting child well-being are attached as an annex to the conclusions.

The fight against child poverty and the promotion of child well-being are among the priorities included in the framework of the social dimension of the EU 2020 Strategy, notably in relation to the target on reducing poverty and social exclusion.

EPHA related articles

- EPHA writes Open Letter to EPSCO Council to strengthen children’s health dimension of the draft Council conclusions on Child Poverty

- Fifth stakeholder dialogue on the EU Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion

- Draft Council conclusions on Child Poverty

- EPHA joint Working Group on Children’s health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Last modified on November 6 2012.