Cyprus is committed to promoting child well-being and combating child poverty Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Papaellina said Tuesday before the European Parliament in the context of a meeting of the European Parliament’s EMPL Working Group on the Child Guarantee. Cyprus DepMin visited the EP following an invitation by MEP Hristo Petrov.
The Deputy Minister stressed that the European Child Guarantee is a fundamental political commitment of the European Union, so that no child is deprived of basic goods and services due to social or economic inequalities.
She pointed out that in Cyprus the Child Guarantee is implemented through a coherent framework of policies that aim to prevent and address child poverty and social exclusion.
Referring to the EU Cyprus Presidency the Deputy Minister underlined that the Presidency’s social agenda is guided by a people-centred approach, with an emphasis on equal access for all citizens to quality, accessible and personalised social services, in full alignment with the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Particular reference was made to investing in the future of children, which is a key priority of the Cyprus Presidency. Papaellina noted that promoting child well-being, eradicating child poverty and enhancing access to affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care, in line with the Barcelona objectives, are at the core of the European social agenda.
The Deputy Minister also informed the MEPs that the Cyprus Presidency has submitted to the Council for discussion a set of Conclusions titled ‘Investing in Children: Strengthening Child Well-being, Social Inclusion and Combating Child Poverty in the European Union’, which are expected to be adopted at the EPSCO Council in March 2026.
Papaellina underlined the importance of close and constructive cooperation with the European Parliament, so that political commitments are translated into tangible and substantial improvements for the lives of all children in Europe.
Cyprus EU Presidency will host in May 2026 a High-Level Conference jointly with the meeting of the National Coordinators of the European Child Guarantee.
The Director General of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, Yiannis Nikolaidis, further explained the importance of investments in social policy and answered questions from MEPs regarding the measures for implementing the Child Guarantee in Cyprus.
In the context of the meeting, the National Coordinator for the establishment of the European Child Guarantee of Cyprus, Maria Yiangou, informed the Working Group on horizontal actions and policies.