The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with proposals for protecting minors from digital addiction, following his announcement of a ban on access to social media from January 1, 2027, for children under 15.

In the letter, Mr. Mitsotakis calls for a unified European framework by the end of 2026, which will complement and strengthen the necessary national initiatives for protecting minors from digital addiction.

Among the measures he proposes are:

• the establishment of a European “digital age of majority” at 15 and a Europe-wide ban on access to social media for users below that age.
• the expansion of the European pilot age-verification scheme into a fully harmonized, pan-European framework, to ensure uniform implementation across all member states by the end of the year.
• the obligation for platforms to carry out repeated age verification every six months, to ensure continuous compliance and prevent circumvention of restrictions.

Mitsotakis’ letter to Ursula von der Leyen

Dear Ursula,

I am writing to you regarding an issue of intergenerational responsibility that requires collective action at the European level; an issue I know touches you deeply, not only in your capacity as President of the European Commission, but also as a mother: the protection of minors from digital addiction.

Today, Greece announced its intention to introduce national legislation establishing a minimum age limit for access to social media, to take effect on January 1, 2027. However, national action alone is not sufficient. A unified European framework is required by the end of 2026, which will complement and strengthen the necessary national initiatives for the protection of minors.

We agree that Europe must choose its regulatory battles carefully. I am convinced that this is one of them. What is needed now is a coordinated and swift response.

Under your leadership, we have advanced the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (BIK+), focusing on safer digital experiences and user empowerment, while 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 global benchmark, further action is necessary. I know we share the view that Europe must set its regulatory priorities wisely. I am convinced that this is a battle worth fighting with determination.

Given that national action alone is not sufficient, I would like to propose:
• Expanding the European pilot age-verification initiative into a fully harmonized, pan-European framework, to ensure uniform implementation across all member states by the end of the year.

• Mandatory use of this standardized age-verification mechanism for all platforms serving users under 15, eliminating regulatory fragmentation.
• Establishing a European “digital age of majority” at 15, introducing a Europe-wide ban on access to social media for users below that age.
• Requiring platforms to conduct repeated age verification every six months, to ensure continuous compliance and prevent circumvention of restrictions.
• Creating a simplified coordination and enforcement mechanism at EU level, enabling member states and the European Commission to jointly assess cases and accelerate the imposition of sanctions on non-compliant companies.

Our national initiative can serve as a model for this broader European solution. “KidsWallet” is an innovative state-issued application that allows parents to set clear limits on app usage, while also establishing a secure and reliable age-verification process, ensuring that children are exposed only to age-appropriate content. It is already interoperable with the European age-verification mechanism.

These indicative initiatives are only part of a broader European strategy, as we approach this issue not merely as a policy matter, but as a moral responsibility toward the next generation.

I hope you find value in the above proposals and remain at your disposal for a more detailed exchange of views.

Yours sincerely,
Kyriakos Mitsotakis