Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-003007/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Hristo Petrov (Renew), Niels Geuking (PPE), Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D), Marlena Maląg (ECR), Katrin Langensiepen (Verts/ALE), Kathleen Funchion (The Left)
The European Child Guarantee (ECG), which aims to prevent and combat child poverty and social exclusion, includes the objective of providing children in need with effective and free access to at least one healthy meal each school day, and effective access to healthy nutrition. A recent report on school meal programmes in the EU[1] demonstrates their benefits in improving children’s health, well-being, overall development and academic performance, as well as reducing social inequalities. The EU school scheme is one of the tools supporting the Member States in the implementation of the ECG, and has potential for further development. However, despite the announcement of a review of this instrument[2], and a corresponding public consultation[3], this review is not mentioned in the Commission’s current work programme.
In this context:
- 1.Could the Commission confirm its commitment to reviewing the EU school scheme, and if so, within what timeframe will this review take place?
- 2.Does the Commission anticipate a trajectory for strengthening the EU school scheme to contribute to the objectives of the ECG?
- 3.What other measures is the Commission taking to support the Member States’ implementation of the ECG objective of providing children in need with at least one healthy meal each school day for free?
Submitted: 18.7.2025
- [1] London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition, ‘The current state, benefits, and exemplary models of school meal programmes in the European Union – a report following 19th meeting of Child Guarantee coordinators on school meals’, March 2025.
- [2] Commission communication of 20 May 2020 entitled ‘A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system’ (COM(2020)0381).
- [3] European Commission, ‘Review of the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme’, European Commission website.