Brussels, 17 October 2007

Press Release

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

On 17 October, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Catriona Williams, Chief Executive of Children in Wales and President of Eurochild, urges EU member states to keep fighting child poverty

Catriona Williams, as President of Eurochild, is present at the EU Round Table this week to continue to lobby for a strong focus on combating child poverty and social exclusion on the European level.

Of the 72 million people still experiencing poverty in the European Union (EU) many are children. Across the EU, families with children under 16 are more likely to be at risk of poverty than the overall population (19% compared to 16%). Despite increased economic growth, these numbers have been increasing rather than diminishing in recent years.

In view of these facts, the European Council in March 2006 concluded that EU member states should "take necessary measures to rapidly and significantly reduce child poverty". This commitment was further underlined by the Council Conclusions of March 2007, stressing "the need to fight poverty, especially child poverty".

As a consequence, ‘child poverty’ was chosen as the thematic focus for the 2007 ‘light year’ within the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) on social inclusion and social protection. This process has enabled a number of actions at EU level, designed to make possible an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon and facilitate exchange of policy and practice between member states.

Eurochild considers that such ‘light years’ provide an excellent opportunity to make policy progress in particular priority areas. There exists huge potential for member states to learn from one another about successful policies and practice. However, Eurochild has a number of concerns about how this thematic year has been implemented and the potential outcomes.

Our members feel that:

• a questionnaire survey and a one-day peer review meeting are inadequate to deal with the complexity of policy approaches needed to tackle child poverty.
• Member states and the European Commission have failed to engage key stakeholders during this thematic year.
• Neither the European Commission nor member state governments have given publicity to this year’s thematic priority.

It is as yet unclear what concrete outcomes will emerge from the 2007 thematic focus on child poverty. Eurochild believes that

• this thematic year has only touched the surface of the potential mutual learning that is possible through the OMC.
• Follow-up work is vital if concrete outcomes are to be realised for children and young people in Europe.
• There should be clear targets for reducing child poverty at EU level, as well as new indicators that can better reflect progress towards child well-being.

Eurochild will voice those concerns during the 6^th European Round Table on Poverty and Social Inclusion, to be held on the Azores under the Portuguese Presidency of the EU on 17-18 October. These Round Table meetings are an important part of the EU’s approach to tackling poverty and social exclusion.   Eurochild hopes that this year’s Round Table will contribute to keeping up the momentum to fight child poverty beyond the framework of this years’ thematic focus. Eurochild has drafted a Policy Statement for this occasion, which can be downloaded from its website www.eurochild.org.

For more information,

Catriona Williams, Chief Executive or

Sean O’Neill, Policy Director

Children in Wales, 25 Windsor Place, Cardiff  CF10 3BZ

Tel: 029 2034 2434

Fax: 029 2034 3134

E-mail: caroline.taylor@childreninwales.org.uk or catriona.Williams@childreninwales.org.uk or mailto:sean.oneill@childreninwales.org.uk

Website:  www.childreninwales.org.uk

Note to the editors:

1.      Background to CHILDREN IN WALES - PLANT YNG NGHYMRU 

Children in Wales was established in March 1992 and became a registered charity in 1993.  It aims to promote the interests of children, to improve services in Wales and to put children high on the Welsh agenda.  We work closely with our members who comprise professionals, policy makers and consumer groups to improve the lives of all children living in Wales, but especially young children, those affected by family instability, children with special needs or disabilities and those suffering the effects of poverty and deprivation.  We collect and disseminate information about children and promote good practice in children's services through research, policy and practice development, publications, conferences, seminars, training and access to an extensive library and information service.  Children in Wales has offices in Cardiff and Caernarfon.

Children in Wales works in partnership with the National Children's Bureau and Children in Scotland and is an active member of EUROCHILD (of which Catriona Williams is the President) and also of the International Forum for Child Welfare.

2. Eurochild^AISBL is an international network of organisations and individuals working in and across Europe to improve the quality of life of children and young people. Its work is underpinned by the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Eurochild is funded by the European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. The views expressed in this Press Release do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Commission.