Conference on the GEAS reform

Representatives from our partner organizations in Greece, Poland, and Spain, as well as colleagues from the Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria and Terre des Hommes Italia, were guests in Berlin. Together with Bread for the World, we discussed at the conference "Children's Rights at the EU's External Borders and the CEAS Reform" how the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) is being implemented and what this means specifically for refugee children.

Reports from partner countries show a significant gap between aspiration and reality. Children's rights are still far too often disregarded at the EU's external borders.

• In Poland, the government is primarily implementing the most restrictive elements of the migration pact – a “cherry-picking” approach that weakens the protection of children and restricts their rights.
• In Greece, children are systematically detained in camps. Particularly shocking: A nine-year-old child was abused by other youths there and was only released after the intervention of our partner organization.
• In Bulgaria, there is a lack of appropriate, child rights-compliant procedures for age assessment. As a result, children are denied fundamental rights to protection and participation from the very beginning.

We consulted with renowned experts on how the EU can live up to its responsibility for children at its borders. The focus was on:

• political solutions that prioritize children's rights,
• legal steps to close protection gaps,
• and practical solidarity on the ground – from psychosocial support to legal advice.

The three-day program included the conference, project visits, and discussions with members of parliament. This allowed us to directly incorporate practical expertise into the political debate.

Conclusion

Civil society organizations must network more effectively, support each other, and develop joint strategies to effectively protect refugee children in Europe. Children's rights must not stop at any border.