There is no need for lengthy explanations to know that child poverty is extremely damaging. However, it is useful to consider implications that are not always self-evident. Child poverty not only results in material deprivation, but also deprivation in terms of opportunities throughout life. This is why opportunities need to be opened up.
This is a challenge, as inequality continues to grow and there is an increasing 'hollowing out' of the labour market, between work which is low-skilled and low-paid, and highly-skilled, better paid jobs - with precious little in the middle.
How you start it shapes your entire life, but the early years are of crucial importance. These aren't years for which easy compensation can be found. This is recognised in the previous Commission's recommendations on investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage.
Parliament's Greens/European Free Alliance group considers it important to remember that MEPs have called for an assessment of all measures in austerity programmes and the country-specific recommendations of the annual growth survey for their potential effect on poverty.
Given that we know the importance of adequate income for individuals in helping them to engage in society and the labour market - where appropriate - and for the reduction of long-term costs to society as a whole, the need to deliver an adequate minimum income should be a priority - yes, even for the Troika.
Further, we need a child-specific dimension and target for the EU's anti-poverty commitment in the European semester process.
We should also build on the three-pillar approach introduced by the Commission recommendation in terms of access to resources - wages and income support - services and children's participation in society generally.
We must also ensure good nutrition across the EU, especially in the first months of life, as this affects brain development. This is a necessity, given the rise in foodbanks in many countries.
Stable, good quality housing is another important element - a challenge in a number of our member states. Frequent house moves, especially for homeless families or looked-after children, is disruptive to schooling and healthcare such as basic immunisations.
It can also mean that some at-risk children disappear from the relevant public services altogether. Poor quality housing can lead to various and many health problems and of course, we know that the poorest children all too often live in the most polluted areas.
Member states have a clear responsibility to tackle child poverty. They need to reflect the United Nations convention on the rights of the child and beyond simply discussing and debating 'the best interests of the child', they must deliver.