Save the Children said the implementation of the Pact, which takes effect Friday, and EU external action must keep child protection at its core, not border management objectives.
BRUSSELS, 10 June 2026 - Children seeking safety in Europe could face an increased risk of coercive biometric checks and detention under the European Union’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, said Save the Children, calling for children’s best interest to be put first.
Save the Children said the implementation of the Pact, which takes effect Friday, and EU external action must keep child protection at its core, not border management objectives.
Federica Toscano, Save the Children’s senior advocacy advisor on children on the move, said:
“The Pact is now a reality but whether it actually protects children or exposes them to greater harm, will largely depend on how it is implemented. The real test is now.
"For children seeking safety in Europe, the difference between protection and harm will be decided at borders, in procedures, and the conditions in reception centres. These are children fleeing violence, disease outbreaks, poverty, and abuse in search of safety. Without robust safeguards and a genuine commitment to the best interests of the child, they risk facing even greater harm.
“There is a real danger that this Pact could make child detention the new norm at Europe's borders. While European law is clear that detention must be a last resort, the reality is that it has become increasingly routine across Europe. We’ve already seen the consequences: children held in overcrowded and inadequate facilities, without the care and support they need, leaving them facing uncertainty, distress and further harm. No child should ever be detained simply because they are seeking protection.
“It is also deeply alarming that the Pact outlines that border officials can use an 'appropriate degree of coercion' to collect biometric data from children as young as six. Children seeking safety should be met with care and protection, not force. Without clear safeguards, these provisions risk exposing children to fear, distress and harm.
“The Pact also prioritises faster processing at EU borders, but speed cannot come at the expense of children's rights. Child protection specialists must be present at every stage of the process. Without them, children risk becoming invisible in systems designed primarily for migration control, not protection.
"Children need stability, continuity of care, trusted relationships and access to essential services. A system that leaves children confined in inadequate conditions, subjected to force, and deprived of stability is not one that reflects Europe's values or its legal obligations.
"The Pact is only as effective as its implementation. The EU now faces a choice: implement a system that actually protects children, or one that places them at greater risk. We will be tracking what happens in reality, not just what is written in the law. Transparency and accountability will be essential to ensure that children’s rights are actually upheld across the EU.
“Children cannot afford to wait, and they cannot afford for us to get this wrong.”
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