Keit Pentus-Rosimannus
Rahandusminister 26.07.2021 nr 10.1-13/818-1
Rahandusministeerium
Tanel Kiik
Tervise- ja tööminister
Sotsiaalministeerium
Signe Riisalo
Sotsiaalkaitseminister
Sotsiaalministeerium
Austatud ministrid
Edastame teile Euroopa Komisjoni volinike Nicolas Schmiti ja Elisa Ferreira 26.07.2021
ühise kirja nr Ares(2021) 4771762 (European Child Guarantee).
Lugupidamisega
Aivo Orav
Alaline esindaja
Lisad: volinike kiri 3 lk
Tiiu Noobel +32 2227 4337
[email protected]
Rue Guimard 11/13 1040 Brussels Tel: +32 2 227 39 10
[email protected] https://eu.mfa.ee
Ref. Ares(2021)4771762 - 26/07/2021
NICOLAS SCHMIT ELISA FERREIRA
Member of the European Commission Member of the European Commission
Jobs and Social Rights Cohesion and Reforms
Brussels, 26 July 2021
Dear Minister,
I am writing to you about our joint commitment enshrined in the unanimously approved
recommendation establishing the European Child Guarantee, to improve children’s
prospects across the European Union.
According to the latest estimations, approximately 18 million children are at risk of
poverty or social exclusion in the EU with very high shares in some Member States.
Child poverty is consistently present in all Member States at a higher rate than working-
age adults’ poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic consequences
are likely to have exacerbated inequalities and poverty.
The Recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee aims at addressing
these challenges and combating social exclusion in childhood. I would like to warmly
thank you for your support to this initiative, which delivers on the commitments of the
Porto Social Summit, contributes to the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan
and helps to achieve its target of reducing the number of children at risk of poverty or
social exclusion by at least 5 million.
./…
The Council Recommendation calls upon the Member States to make best use of the
EU funding to support the implementation of the European Child Guarantee. It is our
joint responsibility to break the intergenerational cycle of exclusion and to ensure that
children in need are duly supported to thrive in their lives.
During the programming period 2014-2020, the European Structural and Investment
Funds, in particular the European Social Fund and the European Regional
Development Fund as well as the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived,
supported a number of policy interventions relevant for children. This included notably
tackling child poverty, access to quality mainstream education and care services, as
well as provision of food and material assistance to deprived children.
Together, in order to respond to the complex range of issues of children in need, we
should ensure that these efforts will be increased in the 2021-2027 programming
period and that EU funds intervention is designed in a complementary and integrated
manner.
Member States whose rate of child at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion is higher than
the EU average (in 2017-2019) will have to dedicate at least 5% of the European Social
Fund Plus (ESF+) to combatting child poverty, while other Member States will be
required to dedicate an appropriate amount.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) can also make a decisive
contribution to support to Member States in implementing the objectives and
recommendations of the European Child Guarantee through future-proof investments
in social infrastructure development, equipment in early childhood education and care,
school-based activities, healthcare and adequate housing.
In just transition regions, the Just Transition Fund (JTF) may also support activities in
the areas of education and social inclusion, as well child-care facilities, where duly
justified, as part of the overall strategy for the region defined in the territorial just
transition plans.
Member States are encouraged to make the best combined use of ESF+, ERDF,
national resources and, when relevant, the JTF to reduce the gaps and inequalities in
accessing high-quality mainstream services and infrastructure for children in need. This
will be an important point of attention for the Commission during the negotiations.
Besides Cohesion policy, the Recovery and Resilience Facility funding, must be
exploited to help achieve fast and inclusive recovery.
In addition, Member States can use the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) for
supporting reforms. In the TSI 2022 exercise, a flagship project on the Implementation
of the European Child Guarantee will provide strategic or legal advice for reforms,
studies, training and other expertise.
../…
We count on you to ensure a strong complementarity among the different EU
instruments as well as national funding and make best use of those synergies. This is
particularly relevant in the context of the preparation of the action plans for the
implementation of the European Child Guarantee, which the Member States will submit
in March 2022, at the latest.
The Commission strongly encourages all Member States to address child poverty as a
matter of priority. Our services are ready to help you make the best use of the EU and
national funding and uphold our joint commitment to advance on equal opportunities
for all children, and in particular for children in need, and support upward social
convergence of Member States.
Yours faithfully,
Nicolas Schmit Elisa Ferreira
Electronically signed on 26/07/2021 09:44 (UTC+02) in accordance with article 11 of Commission Decision C(2020) 4482
Tiiu Noobel
From: Maili Liivamäe
Sent: Monday, 26 July 2021 12:51
To: Tiiu Noobel; Esindus EL juures üldaadress
Subject: Fwd: Letter from Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and Commissioner Elisa Ferreira on
European Child Guarantee ref. Ares(2021)4771762
Attachments: Transmission letter EE.docx.pdf; English letter CG_all.docx.pdf
Välisministeerium | Maili Liivamäe |
[email protected]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Aivo Orav
Date: 26 July 2021 at 13:30:24 EEST
Subject: Fwd: Letter from Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and Commissioner Elisa Ferreira on European
Child Guarantee ref. Ares(2021)4771762
To: Maili Liivamäe
Välisministeerium | Aivo Orav |
[email protected]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PELECHOWICZ Anita
Date: 26 July 2021 at 11:43:22 CEST
Subject: Letter from Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and Commissioner Elisa Ferreira on European Child
Guarantee ref. Ares(2021)4771762
To: Aivo Orav
Your Excellency,
Please find attached a letter by Mr Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner responsible for Jobs and Social Rights and Ms Elisa
Ferreira, Commissioner responsible for Cohesion and Reforms
addressed to the attention of Ms Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, Minister of Finance, Mr Tanel Kiik, Minister of Heath and
Labour, Ms Signe Riisalo, Minister of Social Protection.
We would be grateful if you could ensure the transmission of this letter.
Yours faithfully,
On behalf of Antoine Kasel
Anita Pelechowicz
Assistant to Ana Carla Pereira – Cabinet expert
Assistant to Christoph Nerlich – Member of Cabinet
Cabinet of Nicolas Schmit
Commissioner for Jobs & Social rights
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200, office : BERL 10/322
B-1049 Brussels/Belgium
Tel +32 2 29 65130
E-mail :
[email protected]
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