Children's rights commissioner criticizes use of minors in MEP's energy protest campaign

On October 5, 2026, the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, Elena Pericleous, issued a formal letter and a public statement regarding the involvement of minors in campaign videos produced by Member of the European Parliament Fidias Panayiotou. The videos, which encouraged the public to participate in an upcoming protest against rising electricity prices, sparked concern from the Commissioner regarding the potential instrumentalization of children.

Pericleous emphasized that while children have a fundamental right to participate in public life, express opinions, and engage in peaceful demonstrations, their involvement must be autonomous. She argued that true participation requires children to be fully informed and to understand the issues they are speaking about, rather than repeating messages scripted by adults. The Commissioner explicitly warned against using children as political props to advance adult-led agendas, highlighting a broader institutional need to protect minors from manipulation in public discourse.

While this intervention was prompted by the specific video released by Panayiotou, the Commissioner noted that her concerns reflect a wider necessity for adults to respect the boundaries between child participation and adult mobilization. There is no mention of legal consequences at this stage, but the Commissioner’s public stance serves as a formal reminder of the ethical standards required for involving children in political advocacy.