Petition Commission, European Parliament, is preparing a draft report that will be discussed this Tuesday at 14:30. The document aggregates the findings of the European delegation that visited the Balearic Islands in April and examined alleged cases of sexual abuse involving minors protected by the Mallorcan Institute of Social Affairs IMAS. The discussion aims to shed light on the scope of these concerns and to map next steps for safeguarding vulnerable youths across the region. In the commission, Members of the European Parliament will review the initial results of the visit and consider how the information gathered aligns with existing protections for minors. During the island visit, officials observed local institutions and met with regional authorities, specialists in child protection, relatives of victims, and representatives from the press. The delegation also engaged with the Balearic leadership, including the head of government and the minister for social affairs and sports, to hear their views on current measures and future improvements. The purpose of the examination is to understand how well current frameworks work and where gaps might exist in the protection network available to minors. This inquiry comes as part of ongoing scrutiny by the European Parliament into child protection practices across member states and territories, and it reflects a broader commitment to strengthening safeguards and coordination among agencies so that risks are identified and addressed promptly. The committee pointed out that amendments to the draft report will be due by November 7. The April visit lasted from the 11th to the 13th and was led by German MEP Peter Jahr, accompanied by colleagues Manuel Pizarro from Portugal, Ramona Strugariu from Romania, Rosa D’Amato from Italy, and Kosma Zlotowski from Poland.Spanish colleagues Rosa Estaràs, Alícia Homs, Maite Pagazaurtundúa, and Jorge Buxadé also joined the mission, bringing regional and national perspectives to the discussions. The preliminary findings released earlier in September emphasized the need to reinforce resources for protection, enhance interagency coordination, and strengthen mechanisms that ensure the safety of minors while reducing risky situations. In addition, the delegation called for increased funding to support frontline professionals working with vulnerable youths and stressed the importance of maintaining open communication channels with families. Such measures would help tailor interventions to the varying risk profiles of children and sustain healthy family relationships where possible. It is noteworthy that the push for greater Parliamentary engagement originated from Vox, after both the Balearic Parliament and the Mallorca Consell declined to establish investigative commissions. In their stead, the regional authorities formed expert and policy-oriented commissions to address the issues raised, though there were disagreements within Vox and the People’s Party about the proposed approaches. The overall objective remains clear: to ensure that every child under IMAS protection receives robust support and that public institutions collaborate effectively to keep families informed and empowered to participate in safeguarding decisions. The dialogue continues as the European Parliament evaluates the path forward and considers how best to translate the delegation’s initial insights into concrete, applicable policies that protect minors across the Balearic archipelago and beyond. The collaboration among European institutions, regional bodies, and local communities is framed as essential to building a resilient protection system that can adapt to evolving risks and ensure the wellbeing of all children involved. A careful balance of resources, coordination, and timely action is seen as central to achieving lasting improvements in child protection across the region and throughout the union.
