Keeping Families Together: Preventing institutionalisation

Together, we have developed a position paper — published ahead of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) — that sets out how EU funding can be redesigned to deliver better outcomes for children, stronger accountability, and greater long-term social and economic value.

The problem we are addressing

Across Europe, a troubling pattern continues to emerge. Families living in poverty or facing discrimination — based on ethnicity, disability, migration status, or race — often encounter public authorities only at moments of crisis. When they do, the response is too often reactive and punitive rather than preventative and supportive.

The consequence can be devastating: children are separated from their families not because of genuine protection needs, but because of poverty and discrimination. This is not child protection, it is the institutionalisation of inequality.

The evidence is clear. When systems are designed to provide timely, community-based support for families, outcomes for children improve and long-term public expenditure decreases. Prevention works – and it is also more cost-effective.

Why the next EU funding cycle matters

The 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework will shape social policy investments across Member States for the coming decade. This creates a critical opportunity that must not be missed.

EU funding has too often fallen short of its transformative promise. In some cases, it has not simply failed to deliver change — it has contributed to harmful outcomes. Our position paper argues that this must change and sets out practical recommendations for how to achieve it.

Our Recommendations

The paper organises its recommendations around three key pillars:

Strengthening prevention and social inclusion

National Recovery and Resilience Plans must explicitly reflect EU commitments to children’s rights, poverty reduction, anti-racism, Roma inclusion, and deinstitutionalisation. At least 5% of relevant budget allocation should be earmarked for the European Child Guarantee, increasing to 10% in Member States with the highest levels of child poverty.

Ensuring effective partnership and accountability

Civil society must have a guaranteed, independent, and meaningful role throughout the entire funding cycle — not as an afterthought, but as a structural requirement. Long-term funding for civil society participation and monitoring must be secured.

Operationalising fundamental rights

Rights cannot remain only on paper. National plans must explicitly reference the Charter of Fundamental Rights, relevant case law, and international human rights standards. Independent complaints mechanisms should also be established to address allegations of fund misuse or rights violations.

Our shared values

This work is grounded in a set of principles we believe are non-negotiable: evidence must drive policy; lived experience must be placed at the centre of solutions; environmental and social justice are interconnected; and the people most affected by poverty and discrimination must be recognised as partners, not problems to be managed.

Our commitment

MMM stands firmly behind this paper and its recommendations. Families living in adversity are not passive recipients of charity. They are active partners in finding solutions, driving change, and holding public authorities to account.

The next EU funding cycle offers a genuine opportunity to build social systems that support families before problems escalate — systems that keep children where they belong: with the people who love them.

Read the full paper here