Kinnock: ‘Our children must be protected’

Date: 24/10/02

By Martin Banks

EUROPE faces 'disastrous' consequences unless it invests more heavily in the future of its young people, according to European Commission Vice-President Neil Kinnock.

Speaking at a conference at the European Parliament on the rights of children in candidate countries, he said enlargement was a 'historic' event but one which had a 'deep and evil' side to it. Urgent action was needed to tackle child abuse throughout the EU, but particularly in those countries hoping to join the bloc in 2004, he warned.

'No one should delude themselves that it [enlargement] will mean we have reached some sort of high water mark. The fact is we are seeing more and more evidence of the disgusting mistreatment of children. We have to recognise there needs to be more investment in children in terms of their welfare, education and well-being,' he said. 'Our continent could face disaster unless investment in our children's future is made a priority.'

The 'Children First' conference, attended by EU-wide children's groups and NGOs, heard that nearly 18 million youngsters in the EU are living in households with an income of less than €2.50 per day. Access to education has suffered, especially in rural areas, and about one million children are living on the streets.

Dutch Socialist MEP Jan Marinus Wiersma told delegates that most attention in the enlargement process had focused on issues such as farm subsidies and competition rules in candidate countries.

He said although the combating of sexual exploitation of children, child pornography and child trafficking were 'key elements' of the Community's justice and home affairs policy, 'in the Commission's reports on the progress of enlargement, children are almost entirely absent'.

Europe faces 'disastrous' consequences unless it invests more heavily in the future of its young people, according to European Commission Vice-President Neil Kinnock.