European Child Guarantee — A Step Toward Ukraine's European Integration

On July 24, Ukraine officially announced the implementation of the European Child Guarantee during the forum "European Child Guarantee: Preparation for Implementation in Ukraine." Held in Kyiv, the forum brought together representatives from the government, local communities, international partners, and civil society. This milestone integrates existing national policies on children's rights into a unified European framework, reinforcing Ukraine's commitment to combating child poverty, social exclusion, and inequalities. 

The European Child Guarantee (ECG) is an EU initiative designed to eradicate poverty and social exclusion among children by ensuring free and equal access to essential services. It focuses on the most vulnerable children and covers six key areas: early childhood education and care, healthcare, healthy nutrition, adequate housing, inclusive education and healthy school meals.

"When people in Europe say ‘a child’s life,’ they mean well-being, opportunities, growth. In Ukraine today, we mean physical survival. When they say ‘the future’ in Europe, it means a perspective for years. We sometimes narrow the meaning of this phrase to ‘surviving until tomorrow.’ This is the reality that Russia’s invasion has created. And children are its most vulnerable hostages," said First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.

Ukraine is among the first EU candidate countries invited to participate in this initiative, demonstrating its readiness to implement it. This decision aligns with Ukraine's strategic path toward European integration and reflects a steadfast commitment to creating a child-centered national policy.

"For more than three years, Russia's full-scale war has had significant consequences for Ukrainian children. At the centre of the challenges is the violation of children's basic rights: to safety, education, development, and healthcare. In this context, the implementation of the European Child Guarantee is critical not only as a response to the humanitarian crisis, but as a structural component of our path to EU membership. This is a tool that will help ensure that every child has access to quality education, healthcare and nutrition, build a service state with children at the centre of policy, and promote interagency cooperation that meets the key principles of the European Union," said Taras Kachka, Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

Implementing the ECG sends a clear signal to the European Union of Ukraine’s commitment to shared values.

“As Ukraine rebuilds, it has the chance to put children at the heart of its recovery and EU path. The European Child Guarantee offers practical tools to support families hit by the war, break the cycle of poverty, and strengthen child protection systems. By aligning national reforms like the Better Care Reform with this approach—and ensuring strong investment and coordination—Ukraine can build a more inclusive, resilient future where every child thrives,” said Katarína Mathernová, EU Ambassador to Ukraine.

Ukraine will implement the European Child Guarantee not as a standalone project but as an integral part of existing strategies in children's rights protection, education, healthcare, social policy, inclusion, and family support. This includes reforms in childcare and support systems, school nutrition programs, the expansion of inclusive education networks, the creation of barrier-free environments, and the development of community-level services. The European Child Guarantee unifies these efforts into a cohesive policy framework that aligns with EU standards, strengthening national priorities in child protection.

"We are pleased to see Ukraine's commitment to a whole-of-government approach that consolidates existing initiatives into an effective and inclusive policy for children, which is aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and EU standards. The implementation of the European Child Guarantee, supported by EU institutions and Member States, will be crucial in ensuring that the rights of every child, particularly the most vulnerable, are protected. We welcome the clear prioritisation of this agenda in the EU accession process, as well as the collective efforts to ensure that no child is left behind," said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine.

Russia’s full‑scale invasion has already affected the lives of more than 7 million children in Ukraine. More than 3 million have limited access to basic services. Particular attention is needed for those who are at high risk: children with disabilities, children from low-income families, children raised in institutional care, and children from national minorities. These groups most often face restricted access to education, healthcare, and adequate housing and therefore require comprehensive support.

"For Ukraine, which is currently fighting for its future, protecting every child is not an option but a necessity. It is important for us that all children can receive free quality medical care, proper living conditions, healthy food and other important support - regardless of their parents' income. The European Child Guarantee shows us the direction - how to build a system where no child is left behind," says Iryna Tuliakova, Head of the Coordinating Center for the Development of Family Education and Childcare, Government of Ukraine's contact person for the implementation of the ECG. "We must unite everyone who works with and for children, ensuring that support reaches them where they live and grow – at school, kindergarten and within their community. Such results are possible only through coordinated, cross-sectoral work. And this is exactly the kind of cooperation we are discussing today."

At the forum participants presented the core principles of the European Child Guarantee, shared experiences from EU member states and candidate countries, and discussed adapting the initiative to Ukraine's unique context. Participants also explored strategic solutions to ensure the continuity of ongoing reforms while aligning sectoral policies within the single ECG framework. Special attention was given to existing child rights protection practices in Ukrainian communities, which show potential for nationwide scaling.

The implementation of the European Child Guarantee is a key component of Ukraine's broader European integration process, aligning with commitments outlined in the European integration track through 2030. The next step will be the development of a National Plan for European Child Guarantee implementation—a comprehensive document that consolidates existing strategies, defines additional targeted measures and progress indicators, and ensures the systematic integration of the Guarantee into Ukraine's child-focused policies.

For Reference:
The forum was organized by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, with support from UNICEF, the German Development Bank KfW and the European Union, together with the NGO "UAExperts" and the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Upbringing and Child Care.