On December 2, we participated in an event in Brussels co-organised by MEP Hristo Petrov, Chair of the European Parliament’s Working Group on the European Child Guarantee, and Eurochild. The meeting, titled “From Commitment to Change: Three Years of Supporting Children’s Rights, Strengthening Families, and Implementing the European Child Guarantee in Bulgaria”, brought together Bulgarian politicians, civil society representatives, university professors, and young people, who shared their personal stories.

In his opening remarks to the event participants, Hristo Petrov emphasised the need for proper training and education for social workers who support families and children, as well as the importance of seeking children’s input on policies and activities designed to support them. The results achieved, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned were highlighted.

A key focus of the discussion was the need for all policies and activities to be planned based on concrete data and evidence, and that state support should be directed toward early intervention and assisting families at an earlier stage, so as to prevent serious crises and the permanent separation of children from their loved ones. Participants agreed on the need for integrated child protection systems.

The stories shared by two of the participants, drawn from their personal experiences, were particularly moving. The girls emphasised how important it had been for them to receive emotional support and understanding from the people and the environment created by the civil society organisations. Thanks to this, they were able to develop their own potential and cope with their trauma in the best possible way.

The second part of the event took place in a much more informal setting, where participants discussed possible future actions regarding the implementation of the European Child Guarantee in Bulgaria, with a view to reaching those most in need – next steps at the local, national, and European levels; structural barriers and facilitating factors; as well as successful models to be replicated. Colleagues from Eurochild compiled the specific proposals and will present them to the Bulgarian government.  

 

And literally the very next day after the event, news came from MEP Hristo Petrov that his proposal for a separate €20 billion budget for the Child Guarantee in the European Parliament’s report “Strategy for Combating Poverty” had been voted on and adopted by the EMPL Committee – the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. In addition, other proposals of his were also voted on, such as the inclusion of measures for groups in extreme poverty (children in institutional care, people with disabilities, and Roma in extreme poverty), as well as targeted support for young people leaving alternative care.