Letter from Mitsotakis to von der Leyen on protecting minors from digital addiction: Establish a European “digital age of majority” at 15

The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a missive to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with proposals for protecting minors from integer addiction, pursuing his announcement of a prohibition connected entree to societal media from January 1, 2027, for children nether 15.

In the letter, Mr. Mitsotakis calls for a unified European model by the extremity of 2026, which volition complement and fortify the indispensable nationalist initiatives for protecting minors from integer addiction.

Among the measures helium proposes are:

• the constitution of a European “digital property of majority” astatine 15 and a Europe-wide prohibition connected entree to societal media for users beneath that age.
• the enlargement of the European aviator age-verification strategy into a afloat harmonized, pan-European framework, to guarantee azygous implementation crossed each subordinate states by the extremity of the year.
• the work for platforms to transportation retired repeated property verification each six months, to guarantee continuous compliance and forestall circumvention of restrictions.

Mitsotakis’ missive to Ursula von der Leyen

Dear Ursula,

I americium penning to you regarding an contented of intergenerational work that requires corporate enactment astatine the European level; an contented I cognize touches you deeply, not lone successful your capableness arsenic President of the European Commission, but besides arsenic a mother: the extortion of minors from integer addiction.

Today, Greece announced its volition to present nationalist authorities establishing a minimum property bounds for entree to societal media, to instrumentality effect connected January 1, 2027. However, nationalist enactment unsocial is not sufficient. A unified European model is required by the extremity of 2026, which volition complement and fortify the indispensable nationalist initiatives for the extortion of minors.

We hold that Europe indispensable take its regulatory battles carefully. I americium convinced that this is 1 of them. What is needed present is simply a coordinated and swift response.

Under your leadership, we person precocious the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (BIK+), focusing connected safer integer experiences and idiosyncratic empowerment, portion the Digital Services Act (DSA)—our flagship legislation—has introduced stronger accountability and transparency requirements for Very Large Online Platforms.
Although these initiatives are a planetary benchmark, further enactment is necessary. I cognize we stock the presumption that Europe indispensable acceptable its regulatory priorities wisely. I americium convinced that this is simply a conflict worthy warring with determination.

Given that nationalist enactment unsocial is not sufficient, I would similar to propose:
• Expanding the European aviator age-verification inaugural into a afloat harmonized, pan-European framework, to guarantee azygous implementation crossed each subordinate states by the extremity of the year.

• Mandatory usage of this standardized age-verification mechanics for each platforms serving users nether 15, eliminating regulatory fragmentation.
• Establishing a European “digital property of majority” astatine 15, introducing a Europe-wide prohibition connected entree to societal media for users beneath that age.
• Requiring platforms to behaviour repeated property verification each six months, to guarantee continuous compliance and forestall circumvention of restrictions.
• Creating a simplified coordination and enforcement mechanics astatine EU level, enabling subordinate states and the European Commission to jointly measure cases and accelerate the imposition of sanctions connected non-compliant companies.

Our nationalist inaugural tin service arsenic a exemplary for this broader European solution. “KidsWallet” is an innovative state-issued exertion that allows parents to acceptable wide limits connected app usage, portion besides establishing a unafraid and reliable age-verification process, ensuring that children are exposed lone to age-appropriate content. It is already interoperable with the European age-verification mechanism.

These indicative initiatives are lone portion of a broader European strategy, arsenic we attack this contented not simply arsenic a argumentation matter, but arsenic a motivation work toward the adjacent generation.

I anticipation you find worth successful the supra proposals and stay astatine your disposal for a much elaborate speech of views.

Yours sincerely,
Kyriakos Mitsotakis