France is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the EU from Slovenia as per 1 January 2022. As the first of a new trio of presidencies, France can play an important role in setting the tone of the common agenda by prioritising children’s rights. France is well placed to do so, given its strong social welfare system, and its efforts to maintain families together. Lumos therefore calls on the French Presidency to make a full use of the momentum created by the new Multiannual Financial Framework, and the recently launched Child Rights Strategy and Child Guarantee to further advance children’s rights and welfare internationally.

This paper outlines Lumos’ recommendations to the French Presidency of the Council of the EU on how to support children to live in families globally.