Casa resolution for €20 billion to fight child poverty receives Parliament backing
MEPs adopt resolution calling for increased funding to combat child poverty
21 November 2023, 5:39pm
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
2 min read
Nationalist MEP David Casa
The European Parliament has adopted with a strong majority a resolution geared at strengthening the Child Guarantee, two years on from its adoption.
Nationalist MEP David Casa, a long-time supporter of the European Child Guarantee, led negotiations on behalf of the EPP Group.
The resolution called for an urgent increase in funding to combat child poverty, with a dedicated budget of €20 billion by 2027 through a budgetary revision and a reinforcement of the multi-billion European Social Fund+, which Casa negotiated on behalf of the European Parliament earlier this mandate.
“The European Parliament has made this call on a numerous occasions, numerous resolutions have been passed, a majority of the Parliament supports this increase. Yet, once again, the Commission failed to include this call in the mid-term revision of the multi-annual financial framework,” Casa stressed.
The resolution urged governments to improve the quality of their National Action Plans, through which measures are targeted to address child poverty.
“Collecting and sharing of data remains one of the obstacles for the better implementation of the Child Guarantee,” Casa stated. “We need to ensure that the best practices are shared and streamlined among Member States.”
The resolution re-iterates the importance of tackling poverty through a holistic approach, to ensure better nutrition, for instance through hot meals in schools, better access to education and healthcare, and housing.
In his address to plenary yesterday, Casa turned the Parliament’s attention to the vulnerability of children, who also suffered the effects of global crises but were worst equipped to handle them.
“Poverty is something children inherit,” Casa declared. “Our society will not be fair for as long as there are still children who are hungry. There is still a great deal of work to be done.”
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
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