Unaccompanied Migrant Children In The EU

In the context of migration to the European Union (EU), an unaccompanied minor, as defined by Directive 2011/95/UE , refers to a minor who arrives on the territory of an EU Member State unaccompanied by an adult responsible or who is left unaccompanied after he or she has entered the territory of the Member States.

According to the data available, this problem is getting bigger. Whilst the reasons why these unaccompanied minors arrive in Europe are diverse, they remain one of the most vulnerable groups in the migration process. Indeed, not only are they migrants but they are also children.

On 6 May 2015, the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) adopted the report on the proposal for a regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 as regards determining the Member State responsible for examining the application for international protection of unaccompanied minors (rapporteur: Cecilia Wikström, ALDE, Sweden).

This Keysource brings together a selection of information materials describing the situation of unaccompanied children within the EU.

Written by Anna Dimitrova-Stull, Irene Penas Dendariena and Ulla Jurviste.

• Primary Source

Save the Children: Child Refugee Crisis Appeal http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/about-us/emergencies/child-refugee-crisis-appeal

Deutsche Welle, 07.02.16: Children and families at the Greece-Macedonia border http://dw.com/p/1HrDG

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