“We cannot eradicate child poverty unless we change the systems that affect children every day — education, social services, and healthcare.”
With these words, the Executive Director of the National Network for Children, Georgi Bogdanov, addressed Members of the European Parliament during a meeting of the Working Group on the European Child Guarantee, held on 15 October 2025 in Brussels.
The event, organised by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and chaired by Bulgarian MEP Hristo Petrov, was dedicated to the theme “Strengthening the European Child Guarantee and Combating Child Poverty in the Context of the European Anti-Poverty Strategy.” The National Network for Children was invited to take part in a round table on creating political synergies at the European level, alongside representatives of the European Commission, national coordinators, and MEPs from Eurochild, Eurofound and Save the Children.
The Guarantee will not succeed without civic participation
In his statement, Georgi Bogdanov emphasised that civil society organisations at both European and national levels are not actively involved in the implementation of the European Child Guarantee, despite having been among the most active advocates for its establishment.
“At present, the European Child Guarantee is confined between national coordinators, and very little is known about it at national level. Without civil society and local authorities, this process will not lead to real change. The reforms children need do not happen in offices, but through the people and organisations who work every day in the poorest neighbourhoods and communities,” he noted.
Proposal for a new financial instrument: CERV–Child Guarantee
As a concrete step towards stronger civil society engagement, Georgi Bogdanov proposed the creation of a new component within the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme — the CERV–Child Guarantee.
This programme could fund:
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initiatives by civil society organisations and local authorities for reforms in child care systems,
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exchange of experience, good practices and mutual learning to overcome child poverty,
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advocacy initiatives based on data for eradicating child poverty and supporting high-risk communities,
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as well as support for the most vulnerable families and communities across Europe.
“If we want results, we must invest not only in budgets, but also in the people who make change possible,” added Bogdanov.
Reforms and participation – the path to real change
The participation of the National Network for Children in the Working Group is part of its long-standing effort to ensure that the voice of civil society is included in European and national child policies.
Through his statement in the European Parliament, Georgi Bogdanov sent a clear message: “The European Child Guarantee can only succeed if it becomes a shared project between institutions, civil society organisations and local communities.”
