The European Parliament Coordinator on Children’s Rights
Guided by the best interests of the child principle, the Coordinator works to ensure the promotion and protection of children’s rights in all EU policies and legislation. The Coordinator also seeks to guide people experiencing parental child abduction and other cross-border family disputes, as well as advocate closer collaboration with the judicial and administrative bodies and promote mediation in cross-border family matters.
Appointed in July 2019, Parliament Vice-President Ewa Kopacz is current Coordinator on Children’s Rights.
The Coordinator on Children’s Rights is responsible for:
- Acting as a central contact point to monitor and actively promote children’s rights in EU policies, ensuring coherence and visibility of Parliament’s actions in this area.
- Promoting cross-border mediation in international family disputes.
- Serving as a central information point for EU citizens in international parental child abduction or other cross-border family disputes.
Cross-border family disputes - for parents
If your child has been abducted by the other parent, if you are concerned this is about to happen, or if there is a cross-border dispute over custody and access rights, the Coordinator can guide you by providing information and support on what you can do to address the situation.
Cross-border family disputes - for professionals
The Coordinator advocates closer cooperation and mutual trust between EU countries in the field of cross-border family law and seeks to promote the amicable resolution when cross-border family dispute occurs, including the use of mediation. The Coordinator believes that access to expert advice and assistance is crucial for those involved in such cases, and therefore actively engages with experts to encourage the development of EU networks of specialists.
Children’s rights
The European Parliament actively promotes the development and protection of the rights of the child in Europe. The Coordinator engages with MEPs to ensure that the work of the Parliament respects, protects and promotes children’s rights.
Latest Information
Check out the latest news on children's right in the EU and the European Parliament coordinator's activities.
Historically, the position of Coordinator was named "Mediator for Children Victims of International Parental Abduction" since its creation in 1987 on the initiative of Lord Plumb, the then President of the European Parliament. The previous mediators were Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (2019), Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (2017-2019), Mairead McGuinness (2014-2017), Roberta Angelilli (2009-2014), Evelyne Gebhardt (2004-2009), Mary Banotti (1995-2004) and Marie-Claude Vayssade (1987-1994).
At the time, there was little or no collaboration between EU countries in the area of family law. The creation of the Mediator’s position was then a pragmatic solution to increased demands that MEPs were receiving from people facing cross-border parental child abduction or access problems. The role of mediator has evolved over the years. It was re-named “the European Parliament Coordinator on Children’s Rights” in April 2018 under Elisabeth Morin-Chartier to reflect the evolution of the mandate granted to the position, to encompass children’s rights.
The protection and promotion of children’s rights is an explicit objective of the European Union enshrined in Article 3 of the Treaty of Lisbon, while the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights also requires the European institutions and the EU countries to ensure protection of the rights of the child when implementing Union law.