Type: Acts of the European Union: European Parliament Resolution on the situation of unaccompanied minors in the EU

Authority: European Authorities - European Union: European Parliament

Date: 09/12/2013

Subject: The European Parliament recalls that an unaccompanied minor is above all a child who is potentially in danger and that child protection, rather than immigration policies, must be the leading principle for Member States and the European Union when dealing with them, thus respecting the core principle of the child's best interests; it points out that unaccompanied minors, particularly girls, are twice as susceptible to problems and difficulties as other minors. The European Parliament recalls that no child may be denied access to the territory of the EU and insists that the Member States must comply with the international and European obligations which apply when a child is under their jurisdiction, without any arbitrary restrictions; it recalls also that no child may be sent back by means of a summary procedure at the border of a Member State; the Parliament recalls that no child may be denied access to the territory of the EU and insists that the Member States must comply with the international and European obligations which apply when a child is under their jurisdiction, without any arbitrary restrictions; it recalls also that no child may be sent back by means of a summary procedure at the border of a Member State. Finally it calls on the Member States, in order to ensure consistency and equal standards in the protection of unaccompanied minors within the EU, to provide unaccompanied minors with adequate protection, irrespective of their status and under the same conditions as children who are nationals of the host country: access to appropriate accommodation; adequate material, legal and psychological support; the right to education, vocational training and socio-educational advice and immediate access thereto; the right to health and effective access to adequate basic health care; access to information and use of the media in order to satisfy their communication needs; the right to leisure, including the right to engage in play and recreational activities; the right of all unaccompanied minors to the continued use and development of their own identity and values, including their mother tongue; the right to manifest and practise their religion.

Classification: Equality - Art. 24 Children’s rights

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