Kuneva noted “the shocking reports that have been received by the Committee on Petitions (PETI) concerning social services for minors, adoptions and the custody and visiting rights of parents accused of sexual abuse.”

While many of the reports dealt with the 'crisis of the family' in Northern Europe, Kuneva also raised serious concerns for the disappearance of 10,000 unaccompanied refugee minors which has been identified by Europol.

“We must commit to all-round support of children's rights. We must take decisions not only on how to deal with the crisis of the family in Northern Europe, but also on child refugees and the humanitarian crisis in the South,” Kuneva continued.

“This is not only our political duty. It is our moral obligation,” she concluded.