From July 2026 onwards, the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum will significantly reshape the context for children in migration across Europe. In this light, the European Guardianship Network (EGN) was pleased to contribute to an expert meeting on the protection of children in migration, hosted by the European Commission (DG HOME).
The Commission brought together national migration authorities, child protection services and guardianship organisations, and encouraged them to coordinate with each other at national level to ensure effective rights-based processes are in place by July 2026.
During the discussions, the EGN highlighted how we are supporting our members and partners in reinforcing guardianship systems for unaccompanied children. There is substantial work ahead, and the urgency for coordinated national action cannot be overstated!
The EGN members and stakeholders are already analysing the implications of the new obligations, sharing good practices, and are updating our Guardianship System Self-Assessment Tool, among other efforts. At the same time, we continue to advocate to ensure that safeguards for unaccompanied children are not weakened in guidance or new proposals for law.
Read the EGN paper hereEuropean Guardianship Network Paper DG Home Experts Meeting November 2025.
The EGN is Co-funded by the European Union