Joint Letter to EU Leaders: MMM and Partners Advocate for Strategic Investment in Children and Families

In the letter, the organisations call for stronger protection of the EU’s social foundations and urge EU leaders to prioritise the eradication of child poverty in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

Child poverty can cause long-term harm, perpetuate intergenerational cycles of disadvantage, and undermine social cohesion, economic stability, and trust in democracy. Affecting one in four children, child poverty exists in every country; no nation is exempt. Across Europe, children’s rights are still not fully respected, protected, or fulfilled. Despite this, investments in children and social services risk being deprioritised as decision-makers increasingly focus on short-term recovery and productivity.

The Draghi report on EU Competitiveness highlights that promoting equity and social inclusion, particularly through investment in children, is a strategic necessity for the Union’s long-term competitiveness, security, and resilience.

MMM and its Alliance partners emphasise that failure to invest in children and their families today, threatens the future of the entire European project. Delaying action will only increase the social and financial costs in the years to come. Together, we called on the EU leadership to:

1. Reinforce the European Child Guarantee.
2. Integrate the Child Guarantee into a strengthened EU Social Agenda.
3. Support these ambitions with robust funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

InvestingInChildren

The European Child Guarantee is a transformative tool to break the cycle of poverty. It ensures that all children and their families have access to essential services—ranging from expanded school meal programs to inclusive pilot initiatives and comprehensive policy reforms. The program has already achieved tangible results across Europe by better targeting and reaching the most vulnerable children who would otherwise be left behind.

As the EU prepares to launch the Anti-Poverty Strategy and revises both the European Social Fund ( ESF+) Regulation and the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the European Child Guarantee must remain central to Europe’s social ambition. This requires adequate financing and prioritisation of intersectional policies that address housing, social protection, equality strategies, and a just green transition. To effectively implement these tools, the EU must commit sufficient resources and sustainable funding.

MMM and its Alliance partners call on the Presidents to uphold Europe’s social cohesion and ensure that the social dimension of EU policy remains a priority – despite the increasing emphasis on competitiveness, productivity, and security.

The letter concludes with a powerful reminder:

“Childhood poverty violates rights, restricts potential, and threatens democracy. If we are to build a truly just, competitive, and secure Europe, the fight against child poverty must remain a top political priority, backed by clear goals and meaningful investment.”

Read the full letter and signatories here