The European Migration Network (EMN) has published a new Summary titled “Separated migrant children.” Prepared on the basis of national contributions from 24 EMN Member Countries, the Summary focuses on children who arrive in the EU accompanied by adults other than their parents or legal guardians,and describes how Member States currently respond to the specific protection needs of these children in the context of asylum procedures.
This category differs from unaccompanied minors, because the presence of an accompanying adult has implications for reception, procedural guarantees and assistance.
The Summary shows that national approaches to separated children vary across EMN Member Countries. In some cases, specific legal provisions apply, while in others separated children are addressed within broader frameworks for unaccompanied minors. Particular attention is given to how the relationship between the child and the accompanying adult is assessed and managed.
The publication highlights that the way this relationship is treated has important implications for reception conditions, procedural guarantees and the assistance provided to children within different types of asylum procedures, including normal, accelerated and border procedures. It also describes the use of both formal and informal arrangements to support children during asylum proceedings.
In the context of preparations for the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Summary responds to the need for updated and comparable information within this topic and provides a baseline overview of current national practices related to separated migrant children.
The EMN Summary “Separated migrant children” is available in the Publications section on the EMN website.