Conclusions - lessons learned and possible solutions for a CG

• Author: Guio, A-C.; Marlier, E.; Frazer, H.
• Pages: 180-193

Feasibility Study for a Child Guarantee (FSCG) Final Report

180

9. Conclusions – lessons learned and possible solutions for a

CG

In this concluding chapter, we do two thi ngs. First, we draw some overall conclusions in

the light of the evidence collected during the FSCG and synthesised in the earlier chapters.

Second, we explore some of the possible solutions for establishi ng a CG.

9.1 Overall conclusions from the evidence collected in the context of the

FSCG

In this section we draw 15 overall conclusions from the evidence we have been able to

collect that are critical to assessing the need f or and the feasibility of establishing a CG

aimed at ensuring that all children in vulnerable situations (i.e. the four target groups

under scrutiny) have access to the five key policy areas identified by the European

Parliament: free healthcare, free education, free early childhood education and care

(ECEC), decent housing and adequate nutrition.

(i) Access by children in vulnerable situation s to the five PAs under scrutiny

needs to be improved

It is clear from the evidence documented i n Chapters 3, 5 and 7 in this report that

across the EU many children in the four TGs lack access to one or more of the five

areas considered in this study. Despite the fact that the extent to which the four

TGs have access to these five areas differs wi dely between Member States, all

Member Stat es need to improve access to some/all of them by some/all TGs. In

doing so, it is essential that this access is to quality and inclusive services.

(ii) Failure to ensure access t o the five policy areas has short and long term

negative consequences for children and society

As is well known from the literature350, lack of access to the five areas under scrutiny

has damaging impacts on b oth children’s i mmediate well-being and development.

These problems of access can also lead to detriment al consequences for children’s

future as adults. Also the negative effects of lack of access on children and their

future development has long-term costs for society and the economy that will

damage social cohesion and constrain econo mic growth and thus undermine

sustainability into the future.

(iii) Lack of access to the five policy areas represents a failure to uphold

children’s rights

Access to each of the five PAs under scrutiny is an issue of children’s rights.

International frameworks establish clearly th at children in the four TGs and indeed

all children have the right to access the five PAs under scrutiny (see Chapter 6).

When children lack access to any of these areas this represents a failure to meet

international legal obligations in relation to children’s rights that Member States (as

well as the EU as a whole for some of them) are committed to upholding. All children

have the right to access the five PAs covered in this study.

350 See, for example: Pascoe et al. (2016); Gregg, Harkness, and Machin (1999); Repka (2013); and Bellani

and Bia (2017).