5th Meeting of the Working Group on the European Child Guarantee: Strengthening Access for All Children
The 5th meeting of the Working Group on the European Child Guarantee took place in Brussels on 29 September 2026. The meeting focused on how the target groups of the Child Guarantee can be better reached as the initiative is further strengthened, with particular attention to children and families facing the greatest risks of poverty, social exclusion and barriers to essential services.
The meeting featured two thematic panels. The first addressed policy commitment and reaching children most in need, while the second focused on closing gaps and ensuring inclusive access to key services. Experts from Eurochild, Hope and Homes for Children, ERGO, UNICEF and the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities contributed their expertise and practical perspectives to the discussion.
The meeting led to an interesting, fruitful and informative debate on how the Child Guarantee can be implemented more effectively and how remaining gaps in access to essential services can be addressed. The discussions also highlighted the importance of cooperation across European, national, regional and local levels.
Mr Geuking, the EPP representative in the Working Group, stressed in his concluding remarks the importance of effective monitoring, adequate financing and stronger coordination:
“In these challenging times, we need monitoring based on good indicators to demonstrate the European added value and the need for financing. Moreover, we need earmarking to make sure that Member States actually take up and call for these funds. We also need to create synergies between the Child Guarantee, the Youth Guarantee and family policies.”
Mr Geuking further emphasised that the Child Guarantee should provide the framework within which the EU, Member States, national ministries and the local level work together to reach those children and families who are most in need.
The 6th meeting of the Working Group is scheduled for 8 December 2026. It will focus on innovative solutions for delivering the Child Guarantee. A subsequent meeting on child participation in the design and implementation of the Child Guarantee is envisaged for early 2027.
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