Deadline Date: November 5, 2026
The European Commission is launching an Open Call under its coordination and research initiative on age assessment methods, aiming to strengthen child protection and improve the reliability, accuracy, and ethical use of age determination practices in migration, asylum, and border management contexts.
The expected focus areas of this initiative include improved protection of minors through more reliable and less intrusive age assessment methods, enhanced preparedness and cooperation among authorities in combating human trafficking, and an expanded European knowledge base on the reliability, accuracy, and effectiveness of different age assessment approaches.
This Coordination and Support Action under Horizon Europe is funded at approximately €1,330,000 under a single-stage call, with a submission deadline from 6 May 2026 to 5 November 2026. It addresses the challenge that many unaccompanied minors arriving at EU external borders lack valid identity or age documentation, making age assessment a critical step in determining access to appropriate accommodation, protection services, and legal procedures. The initiative also recognizes the importance of age assessment in cases involving victims of trafficking in human beings and in forensic or law enforcement investigations where accurate age determination is essential for safeguarding children.
The action does not aim to develop new age assessment technologies or methods but instead focuses on analysing and comparing existing approaches used across Europe and internationally. These approaches include social and interview-based assessments, psychological evaluations, medical techniques such as dental and radiological analysis, and emerging data-driven or AI-supported methods. The initiative will examine the scientific reliability of these methods, including their sensitivity and specificity, as well as their limitations in terms of representativeness and underlying knowledge bases.
In this context, the work builds on existing guidance and safeguards developed by bodies such as European Union Agency for Asylum, which emphasizes that the least invasive methods should be prioritized and medical techniques should only be used as a last resort. It also considers research and comparative studies produced by networks such as the European Migration Network, along with national practices and previous EU-funded research initiatives.
The initiative is further aligned with broader EU policy principles, including the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, ensuring that age assessment practices respect fundamental rights, minimize harm, and support child-centered protection systems. It also supports improved cooperation among migration, border management, and law enforcement authorities by promoting evidence-based understanding and harmonization of practices across member states.
Ultimately, the project is expected to contribute to more consistent and rights-based approaches to age assessment, supporting better identification and protection of minors in complex migration and security environments while strengthening scientific and operational cooperation across Europe.
For more information, visit European Commission.
