European countries face many common challenges in combating child poverty. The European Union seeks to support through analysis, good practice exchange and policy reporting.

Member States have agreed common objectives to combat social exclusion and poverty and make regular reports on policy development, including on child poverty. The EU monitors child poverty in particular through the Social Protection Committee’s Task-Force on Child Poverty and Child Well-Being, which prepared a report on "Child Poverty and Well-Being". This was used as a basis for the policy recommendations made by the Council and the Commission in the Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008. The situation of children in each Member State was also analysed by the independent social inclusion experts in 2007.

Further, through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the EU and its Member States have an obligation to respect children’s rights in all policy areas. The European Commission Communication “Towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child” sets out how the EU can best uphold children’s rights in its legislation and support the Member States to do the same.

ESN is in dialogue with European institutions and stakeholders so that social directors can help shape European and national policies to combat child poverty and help protect children’s rights.