VSE Policy Update
Victim Support Europe as part of the Child Rights Action Group, engaged with key European Commission officials to advocate for children’s well-being across Europe:
1️. We spoke with Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, to advocate for stronger safeguards for children in migration – including proper guardianship and protection. Improving online safety and tackling child sexual abuse is essential to protect children in migration – which should be implemented with a victim-centred approach. Once again, we emphasised the importance of including children’s perspectives in EU policies, as well as the need to improve efforts to assist trafficking victims. We urged for sustainable, long-term solutions for vulnerable children, including addressing return and adoption requests from Ukraine.
2️. We also met with cabinet members of Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, where we called for a child-rights-based approach to economic and social policies, emphasising the implementation of the Child Guarantee and the need for alternative and community-based care. A central element of the conversation was once again ensuring meaningful, inclusive, and safe participation of children, with the EU Children’s Participation Platform being an essential tool for fostering their involvement in decisions that affect their lives. We also stressed that EU funding, including the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) must not sustain institutional care, but instead enable long-term, sustainable solutions for vulnerable children.
3. We also met with cabinet members of Dubravka Šuica, the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Topics covered during the meeting: Pact of the Mediterranean and safeguarding of vulnerable children in migration management and in the victims’ rights agenda, children’s rights in humanitarian emergencies and joint actions, resilience, family care in sub-mediterranean countries, youth policy dialogues.
4. VSE also met with met with @Roxana Minzatu, the European Commission’s Executive Vice President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, to talk about how we can take decisive action to protect children across Europe.Together, we discussed: building systems and tools for children to develop well-balanced, resilient mental health, including dedicated funding for children’s rights to ensure every child is protected, supported, and empowered in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
5. On March 27, we joined fellow CRAG members at the European Parliament to meet with MEPs and APAs, advocating for the CRAG’s recommendations to the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights.
The key priorities discussed included:
✅ Reviewing the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child
✅ Strengthening the European Child Guarantee
✅ Ensuring children’s rights in the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework
✅ Protecting children’s rights in the digital age
✅ Safeguarding the rights of children in migration
✅ Fighting against child trafficking
✅ Promoting children’s rights in external action
✅ Ensuring meaningful, inclusive, and safe child participation
✅ Advocating for child rights impact assessments
The meeting was attended by seven MEPs:
- Caterina Chinnici (Italy)
- María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (Spain)
- María Noichl (Germany)
- Hristo Petrov (Bulgaria)
- Maria Guzenina (Finland)
- Daniela Ripa (Italy)
- Sandra Gómez López (Spain)
Additionally, Accredited Parliamentary Assistants (APAs) representing other MEPs, including Hilde Vautmans and Alessandro Zan, were also present.
The meeting was highly productive and positive, with many MEPs reaffirming their commitment to raising these recommendations and addressing the urgent challenges facing children’s rights across Europe.
