This year we mark the 35 anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. I am pleased that numerous national and European strategies are delivering results, and that the situation of children is steadily improving.
In my remarks, I would like to focus on children who remain in alternative care institutions.
It is estimated that there are as many as 660,000 such children across Europe. The situation varies between countries, but in Poland, for example, we still have more than 17,000 children living in care institutions and 58,000 in foster families.
These children face daily struggles with emotional instability, low levels of belonging, and difficulty forming close bonds; it is also hard for them to receive sufficient individual attention. This results in problems such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of worthlessness, which in turn affect their entire adult lives.
I would like to highlight here the role of the European Social Fund Plus, which has proven highly effective in this area. I am convinced that this is the direction we should continue in. Of course, overarching strategies and a holistic outlook matter, but it is concrete actions and funding that deliver real results.
That is why I believe regional policy, including ESF+, must have the ability to support such actions and be equipped with adequate resources. I call on Commissioner Fitto to take this aspect into account when planning cohesion policy after 2027.