Fine Gael’s EU party sides with the far right again—this time to undermine the fight against child poverty, says Ó Ríordáin MEP
During a vote today in Strasbourg on the European Social Fund, the European People’s Party – Fine Gael’s party in the European Parliament – voted to remove dedicated funding for the landmark European Child Guarantee.
Speaking following the vote, Dublin MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP said:
“I am appalled that the European People’s Party sided with the far right to strip away dedicated funding for tackling child poverty. At a time when families are struggling with the cost of living, this decision is not just reckless– it is cruel. Europe should be reinforcing social protections, not dismantling them.
“25% of children in the EU – almost 20 million – are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. We have set a goal to reduce child poverty by at least five million by 2030. To achieve this, a dedicated budget at an EU level is essential.
“The European Child Guarantee was set up to ensure that children in need have access to education, healthcare, and proper nutrition. Removing its dedicated funding undermines the EU’s commitment to lifting millions of children out of poverty. I am particularly disappointed to see a Fine Gael MEP among those who supported this damaging amendment.
“The fight for a strong social Europe is far from over. We must push back against attempts to weaken the European Social Fund and instead commit to increasing its budget. Our focus should be on investing in the most vulnerable, not abandoning them.”