From May 15–16, the spring European Guardianship Network (EGN) meeting took place in Vienna, hosted by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, and organised with our Austrian partners.
Over two inspiring days, we explored key developments in guardianship and child protection in the context of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) reform. We exchanged national experiences on the ongoing implementation of CEAS, discussed upcoming challenges, and worked on strengthening cooperation across the network. Key discussions included:
- The upcoming Best Interests Guidance (BIA) Template and its practical application in guardianship.
- The EGN member action plans on priority actions to strengthen guardianship at the national level.
- The proposed Recast Return Regulation and its impact on unaccompanied children.
- Helping identify issues for inclusion in the update on the FRA Handbook on Guardianship.
- On being a guardian: hearing the experiences of guardians in Belgium, Italy, Northern Ireland and Norway.
- Sharing good practices: the Wellbeing Project from the Scottish Guardianship Service, Engaging on Change from Asylkoordination.
We also deepened our conversation on the governance and sustainability of the EGN as we look toward 2026 and beyond. The role of child participation remained central to our discussions, reinforcing our shared commitment to putting the rights and voices of children at the heart of guardianship systems.
The EGN project team looks back on a very successful meeting and warmly thanks all participants for their active contributions and insights. We look forward to seeing you all again at the EGN meeting in Copenhagen later this year!
