Protection of Vulnerable Adults. Europe Added Value Assessment.

While benefiting from the freedom of movement and residence in the European Union (EU), vulnerable adults often face legal difficulties when in a cross-border situation as a result of the lack of solid legal protection. This is due to the different protection schemes operating in the EU Member States, and the incomplete international legal framework, creating legal uncertainties in the Europe-wide protection of vulnerable adults.

This European Added Value Assessment identifies weaknesses in the existing legal framework for the protection of vulnerable adults in cross-border situations, focusing on the most important international legal instrument in the field: the Hague Adult Protection Convention of 13 January 2000.

The Assessment goes on to outline potential legal measures which could be taken at the EU level and which would generate European added value through simplification and transparency of the legal framework in this area.

Author: Christian Salm

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Publications available via the EU Bookshop http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/directorate-general-for-internal-policies-of-the-union-cbf.cKABstF7wAAAEjwYYY4e5K/

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Study, September 2016: Protection of Vulnerable Adults. Europe Added Value Assessment. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/581388/EPRS_STU(2016)581388_EN.pdf

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