European Guardianship Network
EGN aims to improve services for unaccompanied children in the Member States of the European Union through guardianship development and assistance to practitioners and their organizations.
Most guardians in Europe are volunteers with minimal training, creating significant challenges in complex cases. EGN supports guardians and social workers by promoting professional standards, providing resources and training, and exchanging best practices. Our goal is to strengthen guardianship systems and safeguard the rights and well-being of unaccompanied and separated children.
The first steps toward the European Guardianship Network began in 2005 through a collaboration between Nidos (NL) and Refugium e.V. (DE). Formally launched in 2008 with EU funding, EGN was created to improve services, rights, and well-being for unaccompanied and separated children by advancing guardianship across EU Member States.
For years, EGN operated as a series of project-based alliances supported by the European Commission and EPIM. In 2019, driven by growing EU-wide demand for professionalization, EGN transitioned into a formal, member-based network. Today, it continues to strengthen guardianship systems, support practitioners, and improve outcomes for vulnerable children.
Unaccompanied and separated children entering the EU need a representative to take parental responsibility and act in their best interest—handling basic needs, asylum procedures, and complex decisions like return or family tracing. EGN believes a trained guardian is the ideal representative to meet these critical needs.
Because professional guardianship is rare in Europe, many guardians are volunteers with minimal training, facing significant challenges in complex cases. EGN promotes higher professional standards, providing resources, training, and support to guardians and social workers to safeguard children’s rights and well-being.
If you are a guardian, EGN can be of added value to your work. Visit the documentation page under About EGN for more information.
