Children on the Move in Greece: January–March 2026

This quarterly brief, Children on the Move in Greece: January–March 2026, developed in partnership with Save the Children and the Greek Council for Refugees, examines recent trends and protection concerns affecting children on the move along the Eastern Mediterranean route. Despite a continued decrease in arrivals, Greece remains a key entry point to the European Union asylum system and records among the highest numbers of asylum applications and positive decisions at EU level. In 2025, nearly 49,000 people arrived in Greece, one in five of whom were children, with almost one-third unaccompanied or separated.

The brief raises serious concerns regarding border accountability and child protection, particularly following a fatal boat collision off Chios in February 2026 that resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including children. The lack of transparency and independent oversight highlights persistent gaps in accountability mechanisms. At the same time, recent legislative developments risk further eroding protection standards, including the criminalisation of humanitarian action, increased prosecutions of children and asylum seekers for “smuggling”, and the withdrawal of residence permits for formerly unaccompanied children upon reaching adulthood.

Additional concerns include weaknesses in age assessment procedures, especially in the context of implementing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, and the prolonged suspension of cash assistance, which continues to undermine families’ ability to meet basic needs amid unsafe and inadequate reception conditions. The brief concludes with urgent recommendations to strengthen child protection safeguards, safeguard civil society space, and restore essential support mechanisms.