Brussels, June 2026 – Although European authorities are talking more and more about child protection, the reality is that Europe still does not have a clear picture of the actual number of children who go missing each year, nor of the risks to which they are exposed. A new report published by Missing Children Europe (MCE) highlights not only the scale of the problem, but also the weaknesses in existing protection systems.

Almost 8,000 cases reported in a single year

According to the ‘Figures & Trends 2025’ report, 7,881 cases of missing children were recorded last year via the European 116 000 helpline network, which operates in 22 European countries.

However, the data represents only part of the picture. The organisation points out that, more than ten years after a study commissioned by the European Parliament estimated that approximately 250,000 children go missing each year in the European Union, there is still no comprehensive and transparent database that would allow the true scale of the problem to be assessed.

In other words, the European authorities continue to deal with a major issue without having a complete picture of it.

Running away from home – a warning sign that has been ignored

One of the most worrying findings of the report is that 58% of the recorded cases involved children who had run away from home.

Contrary to public perception, many of these disappearances are not simply acts of teenage rebellion. Analysis carried out by Missing Children Europe shows that in many cases the children had previously been exposed to forms of:

• physical violence;
• emotional abuse;
• neglect;
• sexual abuse.

Furthermore, approximately one in four children has experienced some form of violence or abuse either before or whilst they were reported missing.

These figures raise serious questions about the effectiveness of social protection mechanisms and the ability of institutions to identify situations of risk at an early stage.

Migrant children go missing and remain invisible

A particularly vulnerable group is that of unaccompanied migrant children.

The report mentions only 464 cases reported via the 116 000 network, representing approximately 6 per cent of the total number of cases. However, experts warn that the actual figures are likely to be much higher.

Among the problems identified are:

• incomplete reporting of cases;
• insufficient cross-border cooperation;
• a lack of standardised procedures between countries;
• a low level of awareness regarding available support services.

The consequence is serious: many missing children fall through the cracks of the protection system and become potential victims of human trafficking networks, sexual exploitation or forced labour.

Dangers in the online environment

Another phenomenon of growing concern to child protection organisations is online grooming.

The report recorded only 92 cases, but the authors emphasise that this low figure does not reflect reality, but rather the difficulties in identifying and reporting such situations.

In many European countries, there is a lack of uniform criteria for recognising such cases, which makes it impossible to accurately assess the scale of the problem.

Against the backdrop of the rapid development of digital platforms and minors’ easy access to the internet, experts warn that online dangers represent one of the main challenges for child protection in the coming years.

Fragmented data, fragmented protection

The report’s main conclusion is simple and worrying: Europe cannot effectively tackle the issue of missing children as long as there is no comprehensive and comparable data across Member States.

At present, the exchange of information between authorities, the police and helplines varies from country to country. This affects the ability of institutions to intervene swiftly and to develop effective public policies.

Missing Children Europe welcomes recent European initiatives to strengthen legislation on combating the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, but emphasises that legislative measures must be accompanied by effective mechanisms for data collection and inter-agency cooperation.

The 116 000 helpline – an essential tool for families

The European 116 000 network operates in 33 countries and offers free, round-the-clock support:

• emotional;
• psychological;
• social;
• legal;
• administrative.

The service is often the first point of contact for families facing the disappearance of a child and plays an important role in coordinating cases involving several countries.

The Missing Children Europe report sends a clear message: the issue of missing children cannot be resolved solely through emergency responses following a disappearance. Prevention, the early identification of at-risk situations and a unified European reporting and monitoring system are needed.

In the absence of comprehensive data, thousands of children continue to remain invisible to the authorities, and every unreported case represents a child exposed to dangers that can have dramatic consequences for their entire life.