Recruitment of children by organised crime
TA-10-2026-0230 · P10_TA(2026)0230 · PE783.329
- Adopted in plenary on · Adopted 0–0–0 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2026/2725
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Parliament condemns the recruitment and exploitation of children by organised criminal and terrorist groups, calling for a comprehensive, prevention-first response that treats children as victims first.¶¶¶ It urges the Commission and member states to prioritise this issue in the EU action plan on protecting children against crime and in future legislation on organised crime, including aggravating circumstances for child recruitment.¶¶ The resolution stresses the need for stronger enforcement of digital rules, better data collection, gender-responsive support, and international cooperation to address online recruitment and root causes.¶¶¶
Key points
- Condemns all forms of child recruitment by organised criminal and terrorist groups, online and offline, and recognises it as a serious crime and human rights violation.¶¶
- Calls for the child's best interest to be the primary consideration and for children to be treated as children first.¶
- Urges the Commission and member states to make prevention and response a priority in the forthcoming EU action plan, with early-warning mechanisms and youth-centred approaches.¶
- Asks the Commission to include provisions on child recruitment, such as aggravating circumstances, in the upcoming proposal on organised crime and to consider a new common definition of 'criminal organisation'.¶
- Calls for a legislative proposal to revise the EU Pyrotechnics Directive and for stronger cooperation with Europol and Eurojust, especially in ports and urban areas.¶
- Urges member states to recognise drug-related intimidation as a recruitment pathway and to incorporate interagency responses in national strategies.¶
- Advocates a prevention-first approach with integrated, child-centred, gender-responsive, trauma-informed systems, and highlights the role of sport and community organisations.¶
- Calls for enhanced cross-border cooperation among security, justice, child protection, education and health sectors, and for enforcing platform obligations under the Digital Services Act.¶¶¶
- Welcomes Europol's Operational Taskforce GRIMM and calls for joint investigations targeting recruiters, not just minors carrying out offences.¶
- Emphasises that children involved in crime due to recruitment must be treated per international standards, with individual circumstances considered, and calls for child-friendly justice and reintegration programmes.¶¶¶
- Urges better data collection and sharing, and supports scaling up evidence-based initiatives like the EU-UNODC STRIVE Juvenile project.¶¶
- Calls for stronger international cooperation, attention to vulnerable children like migrants, addressing root causes, and funding for civil society and the 116 000 hotline.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Children recruited by organised crime, especially those in vulnerable situations, girls and young women, and migrant children.¶¶¶
- Member states, the Commission, Europol, Eurojust and online platforms, which must enforce rules and cooperate.¶¶¶
- Civil society organisations, community initiatives and the 116 000 missing children hotline network, which should receive funding.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 821 high-risk criminal networks active in the EU, generating an estimated EUR 92-188 billion in annual revenue.¶
- Minors involved in more than 70 % of illegal market activities.
- 22 % of identified trafficking victims in western and southern Europe forced into criminal activities.¶
- Criminal recruiters may offer up to EUR 20 000 for killings.¶