TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION.. 3

II. . DATA COLLECTION.. 3

II.1. Actions at the EU level 3

II.2. Actions in EU Member States. 8

III. PREVENTION OF UNSAFE MIGRATION AND TRAFFICKING.. 13

III.1. Prevention. 14

III. 2. Protection Programmes in third countries. 20

III. 3. Actions in EU Member States. 22

IV. RECEPTION AND PROCEDURAL GUARANTEES. 28

IV.1 Procedures at first encounter and standards of protection. 28

IV. 1.1. Asylum.. 28

IV.1.2.Trafficking. 30

IV. 1.3. Sexual exploitation of children. 34

IV.1.4. Actions in other areas. 34

IV.2. Actions in EU Member States. 43

IV. 3. Age assessment and family tracing. 50

IV.3.1. Actions at the EU level 50

IV.3.2. Actions in EU Member States. 50

V. DURABLE SOLUTIONS. 50

V.1 Return and reintegration in the country of origin. 50

V. 1.1. Actions at the EU level 50

V.1.2. Actions in EU Member States. 50

V.2 International protection status, other legal status and integration of UAMs. 50

V.2.1. Actions at the EU level 50

V.2.2. Actions in EU Member States. 50

V.3. Resettlement 50

V.3.1. Actions at the EU level 50

I. INTRODUCTION

This Commission Staff Working Document accompanies the Report from the Commission[1]. It provides a description of actions carried out at the EU and national levels in view of the implementation of the Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors (2010-2014)[2] and the Council Conclusions on unaccompanied minors[3] between May 2010 and June 2012. The Document is based on information provided by the European Commission, European External Actions Service (EEAS), the EU Agencies – European Asylum Support Office (EASO), Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and Frontex – and 24 Member States[4].

The structure of the document follows the structure of the Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors and, where relevant, adds additional actions listed in the Council Conclusions. Each section starts with the description of the developments at the EU level, followed by an account of the developments which have taken place in EU Member States.

II. . DATA COLLECTION

II.1. Actions at the EU level

The Commission will propose that Member States use the full potential of current and additional disaggregation's of the Statistics Regulation to gather comprehensive data on unaccompanied minors. If this does not reach its objectives, the required information should be collected directly from the administrations in the Member States.

The shortcomings concerning the limited statistical data on unaccompanied minors were addressed in the context of the revision of the Guidelines for data collection under Article 6 of the Migration Statistics Regulation 862/2007. The revised Guidelines, finalised on 11 January 2011, will enable Eurostat to collect data on an additional category of permits, namely residence permits issued to unaccompanied minors others than these applying for asylum[5].

The data collected are used to build up comprehensive statistics on unaccompanied minors arriving to EU. These statistics are further used to create risk analyses and indicators. The suggested actions do not aim at collecting personal data in order to follow individual cases. Furthermore, it has to be clarified that all personal data has to be rendered anonymous before processing it for statistical purposes.

The category 'unaccompanied minors (non-asylum related)' concerns first residence permits issued to minors considered to be unaccompanied as defined in Article 2(i) of Directive 2004/83/EC.[6] This category does not include unaccompanied minors granted residence permits who are the subject of an asylum application, received refugee/subsidiary protection or who were granted a residence permit for victims of trafficking in human beings. Information on such unaccompanied minors will continue to be collected under the respective categories, that is, 'refugee status and subsidiary protection', or 'victims of trafficking in human beings' (although data on unaccompanied minors are aggregated with data on other persons granted such permit i.e. accompanied minors and adults). Data will be collected annually and will be released by September each year. The first reference period was 2010 and the data for this reference year are available since September 2011.

In autumn 2011, the Commission has begun to collect data from all MS on trafficking in human beings on the basis of a list of indicators devised by the Commission.

The 2012-13 data collection exercise on children's involvement in administrative, civil and criminal judicial proceedings will also include data on unaccompanied minors. Results for criminal judicial proceedings should be available around mid-2013 with results for civil and administrative justice due in 2014. The study will also provide a contextual narrative overview for each Member State. Within an implementation of a pilot project supported by the European Parliament, the Commission will carry out a study to collect EU-wide data on children’s involvement in criminal, civil and administrative judicial proceedings. In this context, the Commission will also gather statistics based on relevant indicators and provide a narrative overview on unaccompanied minors' involvement in administrative judicial proceedings in the EU based on the provisions of the Council of Europe Guidelines on child-friendly justice.

The EU and its Member States should use existing agencies and networks to improve data collection and the exchange of information on unaccompanied minors, by significantly improving the exchange of information between Member States in the framework of European Migration Network and European Asylum Support Office.

European Migration Network Work Programme 2011 and 2012[7]

The European Migration Network (EMN) should continue to have a role in the implementation of the Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors, principally in contributing to improving the analysis and exchange of relevant information on unaccompanied minors arriving on EU territory.

The EMN work programme mentioned that the EMN may undertake relevant activities, such as contributing to improving the comprehensiveness of data concerning unaccompanied minors on age assessment, on unaccompanied minors in care and on exchange of best practices. This may involve collating available studies on these topics. These activities shall be limited to "desk research" and/or ad-hoc queries.

In the first quarter of 2012, at the request of the Swedish National Contact Point of the EMN, an Ad-Hoc Query was launched on UAMs applying for asylum.[8]

EASO: Work Programme 2012

The 2012 Work Programme includes a section on the activities EASO is expected to carry out in the context of the implementation of the Action Plan for Unaccompanied Minors and lists among its objectives for 2012 setting up EASO information sharing and monitoring on unaccompanied minors.

The EU and its Member States should use existing agencies and networks to improve data collection and the exchange of information on unaccompanied minors, by reinforcing the roles of Frontex and Europol in data collection and analysis using all available sources, including information collected by the Immigration Liaison Officers’ networks.

A targeted Risk Assessment on UAM was published by Frontex in September 2010. Europol carries out incidental collection of data, that is, depending on the operations carried out.

Frontex is invited to develop annual assessment based on Frontex Risk Analysis Network data collection in order to provide Member States with risk analysis on unaccompanied minors crossing the external borders of EU Member States.

Frontex' regular risk analysis products and the Member States’ reporting to Frontex from dedicated Joint Operations (such as Agelaus or Hammer) pay particular attention to emerging phenomena such as the ones involving UAMs. In addition, with the roll-out of the new Common Integrated Risk Analysis Model, humanitarian aspects of threats and risks at the external borders, also involving vulnerable groups such as UAMs, will be highlighted structurally in Frontex risk analysis products.

Frontex is invited to develop indicators on vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors in joint operation reports.

In 2010, Frontex carried out a joint operation Agelaus at air borders, which focused on procedures relating to irregular migration involving children, including unaccompanied minors, and other vulnerable groups. The operation was carried out with the involvement of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In 2011, Frontex conducted the joint operation Hammer at air borders, which focused on trafficking and irregular migration involving children. IOM, UNHCR, FRA, and EASO were involved in the development of operational guidelines on how to deal with children at the external borders in order to present best practice and possible indicators of irregular migration involving children. The organisations participated in most operational briefings making presentations, together with Frontex staff, on the guidelines recommending how to deal with children.

During the Operational Heads of Airports Conference which took place in March 2012 in Rome, a dedicated workshop on UAM was held to exchange views and experiences amongst officers familiar with the matter. EASO, FRA, and UNHCR actively contributed to the workshop. The conference was also attended by the IOM.

Frontex is invited to develop tailored risk analysis on the nature of the threats faced by unaccompanied minors.

At the end of 2010, Frontex completed and presented the requested tailored risk analysis on “UAM in the migration process”.[9] A tailored risk analysis in Frontex terminology is a document that is prepared in order to better understand a specific phenomenon. Its results are used to refine data collection mechanisms, reporting mechanisms for Joint Operations, operational planning and to fine-tune Frontex regular risk analysis products.

European Asylum Support Office is invited to collect data and develop country of origin information and analysis relevant for assessing the protection needs of unaccompanied minors with a view to better supporting quality decisions.

The 2012 Work Programme reiterates that among the tasks of the EASO as provided by the Action Plan for Unaccompanied Minors are the collection of data and the development country of origin information (COI) and it stipulates that during 2012 EASO will further develop its COI capacity (section 4.2.3).

In February 2012, EASO commissioned a questionnaire on age assessment practices. The results of this have led to a more comprehensive and complete picture on the methods and procedures currently in use, not only within the EU but also within wider Europe and the world.

As part of this research, EASO initiated data collection on asylum applicants and age assessment, which included request for data on numbers required to undergo assessment, those found to be under 18 following age assessment and following appeals. EASO will use these responses as a basis for further analysis and identification of needs.

Throughout 2012, in line with EC Regulation 439/2010, EASO has continued to develop COI methodology, which provides the technical tool kit for drafting COI Reports of the highest standards. By the end of 2012, EASO intends to produce the Afghanistan COI Report. The content will be determined by the needs of Member States. Specific issues related to vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors, will be incorporated within the reports where relevant.

European Asylum Support Office is invited to monitor the issue of unaccompanied minors who are asylum seekers, particularly in the most affected Member States.

The 2012 Work Programme includes a section on the activities EASO is going to carry out in the context of the implementation of the Action Plan for Unaccompanied Minors (section 4.2.5) and lists among objectives for 2012 setting up EASO information sharing and monitoring on unaccompanied minors.

Following evaluation of the responses to the age assessment questionnaire, EASO intends to share the findings and outcomes of the age assessment Questionnaire issued to Member States as well as the feedback and contributions following consultation with wider civil society.

In addition, EASO regularly monitors the issue of unaccompanied minors who are asylum seekers horizontally, through the mechanism of the Management Board meetings, during which Member States and UNHCR have the opportunity to contribute, and update on situations of relevance and concern to them.

EASO will facilitate further information exchange and sharing of knowledge through a variety of specific meetings on Unaccompanied Minors commencing in May 2012. The issue of UAMs who are asylum seekers will also be reflected horizontally within the EASO organisation.

Since 2011, EASO has provided strong support to the Greek administration through the Greek Operating Plan. On the issue of unaccompanied minors this has included working through Asylum Support Teams (ASTs) who contribute to the development of policy concerning vulnerable groups, including minors.

The Commission will encourage Member States and relevant agencies and networks to improve the comprehensiveness of data concerning unaccompanied minors.

The Commission collaborated with Eurostat on the Guidelines and with EASO on the elaboration of its 2012 Work Programme.

The Commission will promote the inclusion of a section on unaccompanied minors in migration profiles of the main countries of origin and transit.

The Extended Migration Profile developed by the Republic of Moldova with support of the EU will include a number of indicators related to minors, including data on minor emigrants as well as children left behind by migrants. A project, 'The effects of migration in Moldova and Georgia on children and elderly left behind', financed by the Thematic Programme on Migration and Asylum, will allow to gather data on this group of population in Georgia and Moldova.

II.2. Actions in EU Member States

Data collection on unaccompanied minors still poses a problem for many Member States, mainly due to the fact that different level administrations are in charge of minors' reception and care. The largest figures on registered unaccompanied minors were found in Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Germany.

Some Member States reported a very limited number of UAMs (BG, CZ, EE, IE, LT and SI) while many MS (BG, CY, CZ, DE, EE, IE, LT, MT and SI) only provided data on UAMs who are asylum seekers.

The tables below list the official data communicated to Eurostat on the basis of Migration Statistics Regulation 862/2007 and its revised Guidelines.

|| 2008 || 2009 || 2010 || 2011

Belgium || 485 || 730 || 1.080 || 2.040

Bulgaria || 15 || 10 || 20 || 25

Czech Republic || 35 || 10 || 5 || 10

Denmark || 300 || 520 || 410 || 270

Germany || 765 || 1.305 || 1.950 || 2.125

Estonia || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0

Ireland || 100 || 55 || 35 || 25

Greece || 295 || 40 || 145 || 60

Spain || 15 || 20 || 15 || 10

France || 410 || 445 || 610 || 595

Italy || 575 || 420 || 305 || 825

Cyprus || 70 || 20 || 35 || 15

Latvia || 5 || 0 || 5 || 0

Lithuania || 0 || 5 || 10 || 10

Luxembourg || 0 || 10 || 20 || 20

Hungary || 175 || 270 || 150 || 60

Malta || 20 || 45 || 5 || 25

Netherlands || 725 || 1.040 || 700 || 485

Austria || 695 || 1.040 || 600 || 1.005

Poland || 375 || 360 || 230 || 405

Portugal || 5 || 0 || 5 || :

Romania || 55 || 40 || 35 || 55

Slovenia || 20 || 25 || 25 || 60

Slovakia || 70 || 30 || 5 || 20

Finland || 705 || 555 || 330 || 150

Sweden || 1.510 || 2.250 || 2.395 || 2.655

United Kingdom || 4.285 || 2.990 || 1.715 || 1.275

Table 1: Asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors (Source: Eurostat)

|| 2010 || 2011

Belgium || 43 || :

Bulgaria || : || 0

Czech Republic || : || 0

Denmark || 46 || 61

Germany || : || 0

Estonia || 0 || 0

Ireland || : || 0

Greece || : || :

Spain || 819 || 750

France || 0 || 0

Italy || 2.278 || 3.345

Cyprus || 0 || :

Latvia || 0 || 0

Lithuania || : || 0

Luxembourg || 0 || 0

Hungary || 10 || 10

Malta || : || 0

Netherlands || 20 || 17

Austria || : || :

Poland || : || :

Portugal || 7 || 5

Romania || 0 || 0

Slovenia || : || 0

Slovakia || 0 || 0

Finland || 262 || 152

Sweden || 54 || 66

United Kingdom || : || :

Table 2: First residence permits issued to unaccompanied minors (Source: Eurostat)

Several Member States did not make use of the new statistical category introduced by the revised Guidelines (see above – II.1) and hence reported zero residence permits issued to unaccompanied minors (BG, CZ, DE, EE, IE, FR, LV, LU, RO, SI, SK). It therefore remains difficult to assess the full extent of the phenomenon of unaccompanied minors in these Member States.

Most data provided was broken down by age and gender and this showed that the highest proportion of UAMs was males aged 14-18. Figures on return were also provided and numbers were very low in all Member States.

Countries of origin varied substantially among Member States. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Albania, Somalia, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan were the most commonly identified countries of origin of UAMs.

Further detailed information from Member States reports

Belgium reported that although the Alien Office produces statistic tables on UAM, the data collected by each administration is not always comparable and that therefore there is no clear and reliable picture of UAMs in Belgium at present. A project developing a common database is currently under consideration. However, Belgium estimates the number of UAM at 4 000.

Bulgaria stated that the number of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers from third countries is limited, with only 17 reported in 2010. The State Agency for Child Protection maintains a National Information System containing data on all children at risk and reported no significant increase of identified UAMs, amounting to 20 in 2011.

Cyprus's Social Welfare Services report on UAMs reported 16 asylum seekers and no victims of trafficking in 2011. Ages of UAMs ranged from 11 to 18.

The Czech Republic is currently reforming its childcare system in general. The institution system will turn into a foster family system in 2018, which will also have an impact on the situation of UAMs, including the asylum seekers. The number of UAMs asylum seekers in the Czech Republic in the last 5 years has been at a very low level and is still decreasing, with 12 cases in 2009, 4 cases in 2010 and only 9 cases recorded in 2011.

Denmark received 432 unaccompanied minors in 2010 who applied for asylum. In 2011, the number decreased to 282. The majority of these (60%) were from Afghanistan, and 82% of all unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in 2011 stated to be over the age of 15.

Estonia reported data only on UAM asylum seekers. There were none in 2010 and only one in 2011.

Finland provided data only for unaccompanied minor who request asylum. In 2010, there were 329 UAMs who originated mainly from Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2011, the total number of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in that year was 150, of which Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan were the top countries of origin.

France only provided an estimate of 6 000 UAMs in its territory with countries/regions of origin being the Democratic Republic of Congo and other sub-Saharan territories, Central Asia, India, the Balkans and the Maghreb. The number of unaccompanied minors requesting asylum was 595 in 2011 and 610 in 2010.

Germany sent data on UAM asylum seekers. Between January and December 2011, 1 412 minors aged between 16 and 17 lodged applications for asylum. 461 were rejected; six were granted asylum; 88 subsidiary protection; and 182 received a ban expulsion. No figures were provided on implemented returns. In 2010, there were 1 413 applications made by asylum seekers aged between 16 and 17; 570 rejected; 5 granted asylum; 97 subsidiary protection; 172 received a ban expulsion. No figures were provided on implemented return. Asylum seekers under this age amounted to 538.

Greece reported that 4 636 minors, including unaccompanied minors, were apprehended in 2010 and 6 422 in 2011, coming from countries such as Afghanistan, Albania, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and the Palestinian Authority. 1,234 minors were repatriated in 2010 and 265 in 2011.

In Ireland, asylum applications from unaccompanied minors fell consistently from 131 in 2005 to 27 in 2011. The top five countries of origin were Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea.

Italy provided data, which indicated that there were 5959 unaccompanied minors on Italian territory on 31 December 2011. Most of them came from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Egypt, Mali, Ivory Coast or Ghana. Most of the minors were males aged 16-17. Countries of origin were found to have changed over the last few years. Flows from traditional countries of origin such as Albania, or Morocco decreased considerably while flows from socio-political unstable countries in Africa and the Middle East increased.

Hungary reported that between 2009 and 2011 the number of unaccompanied minors apprehended by the Police and the Office of Immigration and Nationality was 1000 (this number might include some of the unaccompanied minor asylum seekers as well). In 2009, the number of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers was 270 (5.7% of all asylum seekers); in 2010 the number of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers was 150 (7.1% of all asylum seekers); while in 2011 the number was 61 (3.6% of all asylum seekers). In 2011, international protection was granted to seven unaccompanied minors. From April 2011 onwards, Hungary collected separate statistical data on the number of residence permits issued for non-asylum-seeker unaccompanied minors. 13 such residence permits were issued from 1 January 2011 until 30 November 2011 by the Office of Immigration and Nationality.

Lithuania stated that it had not experienced a significant problem with unaccompanied minors arriving from third countries. It provided data for unaccompanied minor asylum applicants. There were 9 UAMs in 2003, 3 in 2004 and 11 in 2011.

Malta issued 15 care orders in 2010, mostly to UAMs from Eritrea, Somalia and Côte d'Ivoire; and 25 in 2011, mostly from Eritrea, Somalia, Côte d'Ivoire and Mali.

The Netherlands reported only on UAMs who are asylum applicants. There were 725 UAMs in 2008; 1,040 in 2009; 700 in 2010 and 485 in 2011. They came mostly from Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Poland reported 14 UAMs who were staying at reception centres of the Border Guard in 2010–2011. These UAMs came from Afghanistan, Vietnam, Tunisia and Haiti. Unaccompanied minors applying for refugee status in Poland amounted to 31 in 2010 and 23 in 2011. Their countries of origins were the Russian Federation, Afghanistan and Georgia.

Portugal reported 48 unaccompanied foreign minors identified at border posts in 2010 and 34 in 2011. Seven unaccompanied minors filed an asylum request in 2010 and five in 2011.

In Romania, the majority of UAMs was discovered at border crossing with forged or falsified documents or attempting to illegally cross the border to seek asylum or another form of protection in the country.

In 2010, 39 unaccompanied asylum seekers were registered and 9 of them (mainly Afghans) have obtained protection in Romania. Five unaccompanied minors were reunited with their families in their countries of origin.

In 2011, 33 asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors were registered and 11 of them (mainly Afghans) obtained protection in Romania. Two unaccompanied minors were reunited with their families in their countries of origin.

In the Slovak Republic there were 264 unaccompanied minors in 2010 and 169 in 2011. Among them, 7 were registered as asylum seekers in 2010 (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Moldova, Pakistan and stateless). In 2011, 18 were registered as asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Somalia. A special register was created for UAMs.

Slovenia reported 63 minors as asylum seekers in 2010 (38 unaccompanied minors), six of whom was granted international protection (one of them was unaccompanied minor) and 103 in 2011 (58 unaccompanied minors), ten of whom were granted international protection status (two of them where unaccompanied minors).

In Spain, 201 UAMs reached Spain by boat in 2010 and the number increased to 357 in 2011. Four minors were returned in 2010: two to Brazil, and one to Algeria and one to Paraguay. In 2011, only four minors were returned, all of them went back to Venezuela. The aggregated figure for the period 2008-2011 was over 5 500 and for 2011 alone, around 3 700.

In Sweden most unaccompanied minors apply for asylum. In 2010, there were 2 393 cases and 2 657 in 2011. Top countries of origin were Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq.

In the United Kingdom, the recorded number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the UK was 1277 in 2011.

III. PREVENTION OF UNSAFE MIGRATION AND TRAFFICKING

III.1. Prevention

EU and national external cooperation instruments should be fully used in a well-coordinated manner to fund projects in third-countries to prevent unsafe migration and trafficking in human beings of children, particularly by providing alternatives in the country/region of origin that aim to benefit children.

Specific projects:

Project: "Promoting the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, and the Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, both supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime" (Thematic Programme Migration, 2009-2012, €3M)

Project: "Preventing illegal migration of minors and support their social and professional integration in Algeria and Morocco" (TP Migration, 2010-2012, € 0.6M)

Project: "Prévention de la migration illégale d'enfants de moins de 18 ans non accompagnés du Sénégal vers l'Union Européenne" (TP Migration, 2009-2012, € 1.2M)

Project: "Providing Alternatives to Irregular Migration for Unaccompanied Children in Egypt" (TP Migration, 2011-2013 / € 1M)

Project: "Enfants en voyage: Pour une approche responsable des migrations des mineurs"; Morocco (TP Migration and Asylum, 2011-2013/ €1,5M)

Project: "The effects of migration in Moldova and Georgia on children and elderly left behind" (TP Migration & Asylum, 2010-2012 / € 580.000)

Project: "Addressing the Negative Effects of Migration on Minors and Families Left Behind" in Moldova (TP Migration and Asylum, 2011-2013/ €1,5M)

Project: "Prevention of the Illegal Migration of Unaccompanied Senegalese Minors to the European Union" (TP Migration and Asylum, 2010-2012/ €1 213 380) co-financed at 20% (303 345 Euros) and implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Security. The objective of the project was to contribute to the strengthening of the Senegalese national system for the protection of the rights of minors, in order to reduce the vulnerability of young Senegalese who, due to lack of opportunities, decide to migrate irregularly to Europe.

EU and national external cooperation instruments should fund in partnership with central and local authorities from countries of origin, civil society organisations and international organisations targeted awareness-raising programmes for children at risk, as well as other types of preventive actions at local level, in schools, communities and families; training of specialised personnel in main areas of origin to detect situations at risk and intervene with families and communities; and studies in the main countries of origin to better understand the causes leading children to undertake dependent and independent migration.

Project: "Armed Conflicts and Trafficking, Child Prevention programme, Awareness-raising programme in Yemen" (EIDHR, 2009-2011, €150,000)

Project: "Building the dream: Saving the African Child from Trafficking (TP Investing in People, 2009-2013/ €5,24M; Kenya)"

Project: "Empowering social networks and Tribunals for children and youth about the Law Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking of persons in Guatemala" (EIDHR, 2010-2012, €100,000)

Project: "Prevention and protection against human trafficking by promoting the human rights of the victims, particularly of vulnerable groups of them, in Guatemala" (EIDHR, 2010-2012, €80,000)

Project: "School for the Defence of the Rights of Street Children and Adolescents in Bolivia" (EIDHR, 2009-2013, €173,000)

Project: "Media and Civil Society for the Rights of the Child in Vietnam" (EIDHR, 2009-2012, €132,000)

Project: "Stop early marriage and exchange marriage in Yemen" (EIDHR, 2009-2012, € 246,000)

Project: "Addressing the Negative Effects of Migration on Minors and Families Left Behind' in Moldova" (TP Migration and Asylum, 2011-2013/ €1,5M)

A study on the follow up to the 2008 Council Conclusions on the rights of the child in development and humanitarian settings should be finalised by the end of 2012.

EU and national external cooperation instruments should support activities aiming to protect children from any form of violence or exploitation, in particular development of child protection and birth registration systems.

Projects funded

Project: Protection of vulnerable children in Myanmar from trafficking and other forms of harm (TP Investing in People, 2009-2012/ €663,293M; Mayanmar)"

Project: "Reducing Violence Against Children in Armenia" (EIDHR, 2009-2012, €750,000)

Project: "National Campaign for Prevention of Violence Against Children in Conflict with the Law in India" (EIDHR, 2010-2013, €382,000)

Project: "Preventing and combating all forms of violence against children in justice institutions or in conflict with the law in Ghana" (EIDHR, 2010-2013, €716,000)

Project: "Network for Children Rights Protection in Ukraine" (EIDHR, 2009-2011, €177,000)

Project: "Living without violence in the state of Mexico: eradicating domestic violence against women and children" (EIDHR, 2009-2011, €81,000)

Call for proposals

Call for proposals for projects on preventing and combating all forms of violence against children is planned under the Thematic Programme Investing in People for 2012.

EU Guidelines

The EU has been implementing the EU Guidelines on the protection and the promotion of the rights of the child, which focus largely on violence against children. It is expected that the 2012 Guidelines Review will retain a focus on the most vulnerable children such as unaccompanied minors. A number of EU Heads of Missions decided to prioritize local child protection issues, such as trafficking or situation of child migrants, in their action. A guidance note for EU delegations on child protection will be developed.

At the end of 2012, the Commission will issue guidelines for consular services and border guards for identification of victims of trafficking, including special indicators for child victims of trafficking.

Thematic Programme Investing in People

Thematic Programme Investing in People – Thematic Programme for Human and Social Development 2007 – 2013. The mid-term review of the Strategy Paper for Thematic Programme introduced a specific mention of the need to improve birth registration as an essential tool to support national authorities and/or NGOs when trying to trace the families of separated children.

The EU and Member States should regularly address child protection issues in human rights and migration dialogues between the EU and third countries.

Continuous dialogue and close cooperation with the countries of origin and transit is one important element of the common EU approach to unaccompanied minors. Therefore, the issue was discussed in the migration subgroup of the G8, in the context of the EU-Africa Partnership on Migration, Mobility and Employment and of the Rabat Process on Migration and Development (expert meeting on vulnerable groups) as well as on the occasion of the JHA Subcommittee meeting with Algeria and of the Working Group on Social and Migration Affairs with Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia.

Further, the collaboration and particularly the exchange of good practice with countries facing similar challenges is of great importance for ensuring a proper response on the part of the European Union and its Member States. To this end, the issue of unaccompanied minors is also being discussed in the framework of the EU-US Platform for Cooperation on Migration and Refugee issues. In May 2011 Spain organised a seminar on unaccompanied minors.

Human Rights Dialogues with: African Union, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cambodia, Canada, Candidate countries (Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey), China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

The EU and Member States should systematically examine the possibility of introducing, in agreements with third countries, specific provisions addressing the migration of unaccompanied minors and enabling cooperation on issues such prevention, family tracing, return or reintegration.

See below.

The EU and Member States should reinforce actions regarding child victims of trafficking in human beings by assisting and protecting these children at the very earliest stage, by referring them to specific services in the country where they are found. Such assistance should at least include the measures provided for by the Directive on victims of trafficking in human beings.

The Action-Oriented Paper on strengthening the EU external dimension on action against trafficking in human beings – first implementation report/update of information on Member States' external action was adopted by the JHA Council in June 2011 (12401/11 of 4 July 2011). It gives an overview of all projects funded by the Member States, the Commission and EU agencies in third countries on trafficking in human beings. It shows a good overview of the many projects on assistance, support and protection of child victims of human trafficking and the prevention of child trafficking and the prosecution of the traffickers.

The EU and Member States should reinforce the capacities of third countries to combat trafficking in human beings, as well as to protect and assist unaccompanied minors in accordance with the best interests of the child and international standards and conventions, regardless of their nationality.

Project: "Addressing human trafficking of women and children in Viet Nam through capacity building and technical assistance" (DCI, 2009-2012, € 0.4M)

Project: "Prevention of unsafe migration and trafficking in children and adolescents from India and Bangladesh" (TP Migration, 2009-2012, € 1.8M)

Project: "Enhancing capacity to address trafficking in especially children from a human rights perspective in nine provinces and Phnom Penh municipality of Cambodia" (EIDHR, 2010-2012, € 188,000)

Project: "Enfants en voyage au Maroc: Strengthening public UAM management policies in Morocco" (TP Migration, 2011-2013 / € 1.2M)

Project: "Programme Petit Fènix": support development of Morocco's national service for prevention of emigration of UAM and strengthen co-operation between EU and Morocco in this area (TP Migration, 2011-2013 / € 1.3M)

Project: "Strengthening the capacity of the Central Asian Republics to protect and assist victims of trafficking in persons and smuggled migrants, especially women and children" (TP migration, 2011-2013, € 0.7M)

Project: Additional measures to fight child trafficking in Moldova (TP Investing in People, 2009-2012, €363,000)

Project: Against Child Trafficking in Lebanon (TP Investing in People, 2009-2011, €304,000)

Project: Tackling exploitation and trafficking of under-18 girls in Tajikistan (TP Investing in People, 2009-2012, €458,000)

Project: "Erradicación progresiva de la explotación sexual y la trata con fines sexuales de niñas/os y adolescentes en la Ciudad de Encarnación, Paraguay" (TP Investing in People, 2009-, €510,000)

Project: Combat child trafficking in Uganda, TP Investing in People, 2009-, €540,000

The EU and Member States should implement the prevention measures of the Action oriented paper on trafficking in human beings and support regional instruments against trafficking in human beings.

In June 2011, the Council adopted the first implementation report of the Action-Oriented Paper (see also above) which — apart from a list of projects on THB implemented by the Member States, agencies and the European Commission — lists a number of recommendations. It recommends that EEAS and the EU ATC work together towards the establishment of a list of priority regions and countries. The EU ATC has established good links with EEAS to tackle these recommendations. The next implementation report of the AOP is due in December 2012.

Member States’ consular services should thoroughly assess visa applications submitted on behalf of children.

Consular cooperation, visa and document checking in countries of origin are carried out by BG, FR, DE, ES, IE, IT, HU and UK. DE and ES mention the use of the rolling out of the Visa Information System. ES, DE, HU, NL, PL, PT, PL and RO also refer to entry and exit checks in the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the compliance of their actions with the provisions of the Schengen Borders Code.[10]

The Commission will include specific reference to unaccompanied minors in the Immigration Portal, in order to improve information to potential migrants.

The EU Immigration Portal[11] was launched on 18 November 2011. It provides practical information for migrants and potential migrants. It includes a section dedicated to information on unaccompanied minors, which can be found under the heading 'Children travelling alone' within the section 'Avoiding the risks'.[12]

To encourage Member States to make use of the network of national contact points in relation to border control on minors, as set out in Annex 37 of the Practical Handbook for Border Guards.

The proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) and the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement (COM(2011) 118 final) adopted by the Commission in March 2011 proposes that a list of national contact points for consultation purposes on minors – currently established on a voluntary basis under section 3.7 and Annex 37 of the Schengen Handbook – will be formally established and its use will be made obligatory. Point 6.4 of Annex VII provides: "Member States shall nominate national contact points for consultation on minors and inform the Commission thereof. A list of these national contact points shall be made available to Member States by the Commission".

To encourage Frontex and other European agencies to set up actions aimed at supporting the training of border authorities in third countries on how to detect counterfeited passports and visas, at targeted joint operations.

As recommended in the Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme to establish guidelines and specific trainings for consular services and border guards Frontex Training Unit has developed a specific training curriculum on trafficking in human beings (THB) entitled Anti-Trafficking Trainer’s Manual for Border Guards. The objective of this THB training curriculum for border control authorities is to strengthen the capacities of first and second line law enforcement officers within the EU and Schengen-Associated Countries to prevent and combat THB and to handle the victims with serious respect for their fundamental human rights. To accomplish this, 3 modules were developed, namely awareness raising, identification and an interviewing module. Every module has dedicated chapters dealing with child victims of trafficking.

III. 2. Protection Programmes in third countries

The EU and Member States should continue to fund activities aiming to provide protection and assistance to minor asylum seekers and refugees, including activities against exploitation and forced recruitment, for example by criminal groups.

The EU and Member States should continue to support third countries in improving their legislative and administrative capacity to identify minor asylum seekers and victims of trafficking in human beings and set up specific assistance programmes.

Projects funded

Project: "Legal and Social Protection of Asylum Seeking and Refugee Children in Ukraine" (TP Migration & Asylum, 2009 -2012, € 1M)

Project: "Strengthening National Mechanisms and Capacities for Elimination of Trafficking in Children in Ukraine" (TP Investing in People, 2009-2011, €596,000)

Project: "Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child in Armenia through support to the functionality of central and local government and community based structures to prevent, identify and adequately address child protection concerns in institutions" (EIDHR, 2009-2012, €633,800)

Project: "Towards a national policy to fight human trafficking of women, teenagers and children for sexual exploitation purposes in Uruguay" (EIDHR, 2010-2012, €150,000)

Project: "Partnership for Protection of the Child's Rights in FYROM through Support the implementation of the Government’s policy for protection of children’s rights on regional and local levels" (EIDHR, 2009-2011, €80,000)

Project: "Strengthening Civil Society Actors to Work in Greater Cohesion with Government in Implementing the Child Rights Act" (EIDHR, 2009-2011, €236,000)

Project: "Strengthening Capacities and Coordination among Actors Working with Street Children in Nepal" (EIDHR, 2009-2012, €86,000)

Project: "Child Protection Systems for Iraqi refugee children in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan" (TP Migration, 2011-2013/ €0,7M)

Project: "Legal and Social Protection of Asylum Seeking and Refugee Children in Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova" (TP Migration, 2011 -2013, € 791.000)

Project: "Strengthening the capacity of the Central Asian Republics to protect and assist victims of trafficking in persons and smuggled migrants, especially women and children, in partnership with NGOs and other civil society actors" (TP Migration, 2011 -2013, € 700.000)

The issues mentioned appear at the annual UNGA and HRC resolution on the rights of the child (sponsored by the EU) and the EU draws attention to them also during the interactive dialogue with the UNSR on trafficking or during the general debate on children.

The EU and Member States should continue to include activities to assist and protect children in the framework of Regional Protection Programmes, which should be expanded to cover other key regions in terms of migratory flows to the EU and protection needs.

Regional Protection Programmes (RPPs) have been designed to build up and enhance the protection and asylum capacity of targeted regions and countries and improve refugee protection through durable solutions. In the preparation of each RPP (done in close cooperation with the UNHCR) the unaccompanied minors are always taken into consideration while designing concrete objectives and activities of the action. For instance, the RPP in the Horn of Africa aims to provide enhanced educational opportunities for refugee children in the camps in Kenya and Djibouti including those with special needs as well as strengthen child protection activities in camps in Kenya. In addition, the resettlement component of Regional Protection Programmes addresses the needs of the most vulnerable refuges, among them unaccompanied minors.

III. 3. Actions in EU Member States

Most Member States have adopted — or are in the process of adopting — legislative Acts specifically aimed at protecting minors from human trafficking, violence, sexual abuse, exploitation and disappearance. Specific units have been set up within Member States' administrations and specific training for Border Guards is being provided.

Preventive measures such as bilateral agreements with third countries and protection programmes were also set up. France signed an agreement with an EU country, Romania, which includes cooperation among liaison officers to prevent irregular exit and facilitate return.

Spain signed a management flow agreement for children with Morocco and Senegal, which covers prevention, reception, family tracing and secure return and reintegration. Italy singed a similar agreement with Egypt and Albania.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation's Agency for International Development Cooperation has built two centres for minors in Nador and Beni Mellal, in the framework of its support strategy for vulnerable minors in Morocco and its collaboration with L’Entraide Nationale. The centre in Beni Mellal opened its doors in 2011 and currently carries out activities with minors who have dropped out of school and other vulnerable minors aiming to discourage them from emigrating irregularly.

Many Member States – AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, EL, ES, IE, IT, HU, NL, PT, SE and UK – run information campaigns and projects and finance the construction of educational and training centres for minors in order to offer them an alternative to irregular migration to the EU. Those activities are usually carried out in cooperation with International Organizations and NGOs working in the field, such as IOM, ILO, UNHCR, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Caritas, L'Entraide Nationale.

Detailed information on Member States developments

Austria is planning to build a child protection centre in Chisinau in Moldova in September 2012, after an increasing number of unaccompanied minors from Moldavia arrived in Austria. It is meant to prevent these unaccompanied minors from falling victim to human trafficking again and to ensure a better life for them in their country.

In Belgium legislation on human trafficking addresses the needs of UAMs. Belgium is participating in several projects with third countries on protecting their minors from being trafficked. The "Enhancing multi-stakeholders cooperation to fight human trafficking in countries of origin and destination" project is developing a partnership to tackle the sexual exploitation issue in West Africa. Belgium also runs a project with Brazil to prevent trafficking for labour exploitation and participates with other Member States on a project in Serbia on victim identification and protection.

Bulgaria has a strategic framework for the prevention of migration and trafficking of children, including a National Strategy for Child Protection 2008-2018. The main priorities of the Strategy are prevention, improving the efficiency of the measures to protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation, including protection of children who are victims of trafficking. Bulgaria cooperates closely with intergovernmental and nongovernmental organisations such as the International Organization for Migration, Caritas Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, the Bulgarian Red Cross and Assistance Centre for Torture Survivors. Bulgaria works in partnership with countries of origin of trafficking in human beings. Through the diplomatic missions of Bulgaria abroad, cooperation with the competent authorities of the countries of origin on issues such as transit of unaccompanied children and children-victims of trafficking is developed.

The Czech Republic action is carried out by NGOs working on humanitarian projects in third countries, for example Adra, People in Need and Katolická Charita. The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for coordination of preventive measures when it comes to the question of trafficking in human beings as such. In order to prevent trafficking in children (also UAMs) a handbook “Trafficking in Children – Recommendations for Procedures of the Public Administration” was created with the contribution of the public authorities together with the NGOs. The document is a reaction to the developing trends in the area of committing crime of trafficking in children. The aim of the handbook is to describe in detail the recommended procedures of state authorities in cases where a minor is the perpetrator of a crime (especially property crime) - the document stresses the fact that a minor may be a victim forced by the real perpetrator into committing such crimes. Therefore the handbook pays attention to the problematic aspects in the identification of a potential child victim of this crime.

Denmark is running the Danish Regions of Origin program in Africa, the Middle-East and Asia to enhance protection of refugees and displaced persons in the region, including unaccompanied minors.

Estonia is amending the Penal Code and other related Acts to change the wording regarding the elements of enslavement and will add further elements dealing with human trafficking to the Penal Code.

The Ministry of the Interior of Finland set up a project to draft a proposal on passing a special act on trafficking in human beings in January 2012. Proposals for a more detailed regulation of the assistance system for victims of human trafficking and identification of victims will form a key part of this legislative project. Currently, services and support measures for victims are coordinated by two government-run reception centres for asylum seekers, one of which cares for unaccompanied minors. The Finnish Immigration Service and the two reception centres responsible for victim assistance also regularly arrange training on human trafficking and identification of victims for their personnel and other reception centres.

France follows a double-track strategy, fighting against organised children trafficking networks, through identifying and confiscating financial flows and money laundering on the one hand and getting children out of these networks on the other.

Germany supports the initiative to step up action against criminal structures (especially people traffickers) at EU level in relation to unaccompanied minors. All national external cooperation instruments with a migration policy objective also contribute towards preventing the unsafe migration of unaccompanied minors. German diplomatic and consular missions check visa applications from minors thoroughly. Entry and exit checks comply with all provisions of the Schengen Borders Code. Decision-makers from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees are currently being specially trained to identify those UAMs affected by trafficking in human beings.

Greece has set up the nine-member Central Scientific Council for the prevention and treatment of the victimisation and criminality of minors at the Greek Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights. To fulfil its mission, the Council cooperates with national and international bodies and services, higher education institutions, research and education centres, public or private social, scientific and producer bodies, and with NGOs dealing with the prevention and treatment of the victimisation and criminality of minors. During 2011, it created the ORESTES network to cooperate and improve the effectiveness of related projects (approximately 250 bodies and 100 municipalities are taking part); it put together initiatives aimed at mobilising local communities and raising awareness amongst the general population; it created the 24-hour National Child Protection Helpline (number 1107) and the network of social workers who deal with the relevant complaints; it submitted a draft Joint Ministerial Decision and Presidential Decree on foster care to the competent ministries; and it set up a special team to register problems faced by unaccompanied minors.

In Ireland, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Department of Justice and Equality and the national Police Force gave presentations to staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade being posted abroad in 2011 and distributed information packs on trafficking issues to Irish Embassies around the world. Non-governmental organisations, such as IOM are also used to deliver training as required.

In 2009, a “National Joint HSE/Garda Protocol on Missing Children” was published which includes agreed formal procedures for interagency notification and co-operation in relation to the recovery of children who go missing from care which may include potential/suspected victims of human trafficking was put in place.

Finally, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Irish Aid Stability Fund provided 100,000 euro towards an OSCE-lead project for the enhancement of anti-trafficking measures in Ukraine.

The Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies is implementing bilateral cooperation projects aimed at preventing irregular minor emigration. An intervention programme has been set up with the Egyptian Government in order to define shared instruments and guidelines for the prevention of minor irregular migration, both through information campaigns on the risks of this phenomenon and through individual socio-economic reinsertion project in the country of origin. In Albania the project “Back to the future” (2008-2010) financed by the European Commission implemented an effective cooperation between Italian and Albanian administrations, which has led to an agreed management of the problem.

Hungary works at consulate level to assess visa applications submitted on behalf of minors, in accordance with the Community Visa Code and the Commission Decision establishing the Handbook for the processing of visa applications and the modification of issued visas. This assessment includes the verification that the minor has not been unlawfully removed from the care of the person legally exercising parental custody over him/her; that there is no ground for suspecting child trafficking or child abuse; and that the purpose of the journey is not illegal immigration into EU territory.

In compliance with the Schengen Borders Code, the Hungarian Police as the authority responsible for guarding the Hungarian borders pays special attention to all minors. If the minor is accompanied by an adult, the police officer check whether the person accompanying the minor is responsible for him/her, especially if the minor is accompanied by one adult only and there are serious reasons to consider that the minor was illegally taken away from the person(s) responsible for him/her. In case of unaccompanied minors, the police officers make sure (with the thorough examination of the travel document and the certifying documents) that the minor does not enter the territory of the Member State against the intention of the persons responsible for him/her.

Furthermore, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has funded and is currently funding several projects (both bilateral and multilateral) in developing countries aimed at ameliorating living conditions in these countries (mainly by developing education and healthcare), and thereby contributing to decreasing the migration potential in these countries and preventing the unsafe migration of unaccompanied minors.

Lithuania approved the Programme for the prevention and control of human trafficking for 2009–12, including measures for the prevention of human trafficking which also cover the prevention of trafficking of minors from third countries. In 2011, the Ministry of the Interior approved recommendations for early action to prevent unlawful removal of children to foreign countries outside the Schengen area for sale or other purposes.

In Malta, in cases where unaccompanied minors claim that they were victims of trafficking, or where there is a suspicion that they have been victims of trafficking, the Office of the Refugee Commissioner takes this matter into consideration when the case is being assessed. No protection programmes in third countries are run by Malta.

The Netherlands has experience with protecting unaccompanied minors who are or are probably in danger of becoming victims of child smuggling and trafficking. A form of protected accommodation is provided in order to prevent disappearances. Unaccompanied minors also receive guidance throughout the process to enable them to free themselves from the control of the traffickers. Criminal networks are investigated.

The Netherlands also has various cooperation schemes and technical assistance projects in the area of preventing and combating human trafficking with Serbia, Nigeria and Angola. Together with ILO, the Netherlands is running a project in Bolivia, Indonesia, Mali and Uganda on countering child forced labour and plans to start a prevention project in Afghanistan.

In Poland the Border Guard carries out its official duties related to, inter alia, fighting against the practices of organised irregular crossing of the national border of the country and the practice of trafficking in human beings. The Border Guard also participates in pilot programmes organised in selected provinces, aimed at combating and preventing trafficking in minors. These initiatives include the preparation of working documents intended as guidelines regarding identification, principles and procedures for cases of the discovery of a victim who is a minor. Care institutions where minor victims could be placed have been appointed (the educational staff of these institutions is trained in cooperation with the Border Guard).

Portugal highlights the Saferdicas awareness campaign regarding the dangers of using the internet, and precautions to be taken when doing so, in particular in relation to the recruitment of victims of human trafficking. The launch of the film "I want to be a Star" about the triangular trafficking of minors between Portugal, Mozambique and South Africa was a part of the prevention campaign.

Under the 1999 Law on the Protection of Children and Young People at Risk, the Republican National Guard and Portuguese military police force are represented on the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Commission flags and follows cases of minors at risk of which they are aware, as part of its work. The Republican National Guard and Portuguese military police force undertake prevention activities in relation to the abuse of the children's rights.

The Romanian Border Police uses specific risk profiles for the purpose of early identification of children who are victims of THB. During 2011, the Schengen Multifunctional Training Center from Buzău organized an advanced course in Schengen acquis on countering trafficking in human beings, including minor victims of trafficking in human beings. Romania has not implemented any ​​special programs for the prevention or increasing the protection capacity for unaccompanied minors in third countries.

The Slovak Republic has set up a working group on combating trafficking in human beings, in the framework of the 2011–2014 National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. Guidelines have been issued for the border and aliens police forces on a detailed procedure for identifying potential victims of human trafficking, including victims of human trafficking who declare to be unaccompanied minors.

Slovenia's Migration and Integration Directorate concluded, on 17 November 2010, an agreement with the Slovenian Jesuit Association for Refugees on the implementation of the programme entitled 'Introduction of mechanisms for recognising, assisting and protecting the victims of trafficking in human beings and/or sexual violence into the procedures for granting international protection in Slovenia" for a period of two years.

On 27 October 2011 the new Slovenian Aliens Act entered into force. As regards the prevention of trafficking of unaccompanied minors, the new Aliens Act contains a new provision introducing a special procedure for this group. The police and non-governmental organisations are duty-bound to inform the minor of the possibility of obtaining a residence permit and of the related conditions and to make every effort to establish contact with his or her family.

Spain's Ministry of Employment and Social Security has co-financed by 20% (303 345 €) a project in Senegal named "Preventing illegal UAMs migration to the EU". The project aims at capacity building in Senegal's institutions to protect minors and provide them with better life prospect, which is hoped will prevent them from irregular migrating to the EU. Prevention activities have been strengthened by the Spanish consulates in respect of minors' visa applications assessment by the implementation of the EU Visa Code and the VIS rolling-out.

In Spain, most UAMs come from Morocco. In partnership with L’Entraide Nationale, the Spanish International Cooperation for Development Agency has built two centres for minors in Morocco with activities starting in 2011, targeting school leavers and other vulnerable minors to prevent irregular emigration. Support to building minor centres is also provided by the Regions of Andalucía, Catalonia and Madrid.

Sweden is developing a considerable number of projects with third countries such as Mali, Kosovo, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Bolivia, on prevention measures and children protection from violence, trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation and/or organ trafficking purposes.

The United Kingdom's Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 places a duty on the UK Border Agency to safeguard and protect the welfare of children. The statutory duty does not apply in relation to children who are outside the United Kingdom, but staff working overseas must adhere to the spirit of the duty. UK Immigration Liaison Managers and Officers receive specific training to identify children who may be at risk when travelling, and they include this within their own training programmes for airline staff. Where possible they also work with host authorities and international organisations to raise awareness. For example, they have worked with the IOM in Southern Africa on a long term regional project to develop the capacity of the travel industry and border authorities to identify and address child trafficking.

The UK Government is strongly committed to protecting child trafficking victims including those who may go missing. Local approaches have proven to be effective. For example stronger processes and systems put in place by the London Borough of Hillingdon and Hertfordshire has reduced the number of under 18 year old unaccompanied children going missing. The UK government takes this issue very seriously and this is why the Human Trafficking Strategy contains specific commitment to take action to tackle this issue working with key national partners including Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

IV. RECEPTION AND PROCEDURAL GUARANTEES

IV.1 Procedures at first encounter and standards of protection

The EU should adopt higher standards of protection for unaccompanied minors by completing negotiations on the revision of the asylum acquis and by adopting more comprehensive legislation on trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children.

IV. 1.1. Asylum

Recast proposals presented in June 2011 included a number of procedural safeguards enhancing the protection of minors, including unaccompanied minors.

Proposed Asylum Procedures Directive:

o The right of minors to apply for international protection is explicitly stipulated in the proposal;

o Member States are required to grant applicants with special needs, including unaccompanied minors, time extensions to submit evidence or take other necessary steps in the asylum procedure;

o Unaccompanied minors are entitled to free legal assistance in both first instance and appeal procedures;

o Member States are required to appoint a guardian in order to assist and represent an unaccompanied minor with respect to the lodging and examination of the application. In accordance with the proposal, the guardian must be impartial and have the necessary expertise in the field of childcare; The proposal exempts unaccompanied minors from accelerated/manifestly unfounded border procedures, and from procedures based on the safe third country concept;

o Member States are required to provide initial and follow up training to asylum personnel with regard to gender, trauma and age awareness, and to ensure that interviews with minors are conducted in a child-friendly manner.

Proposed Reception Conditions Directive

o specifies that minors shall not be detained unless it is in their best interests, while unaccompanied minors shall never be detained;

o obliges Member States to establish specific reception conditions for minors such as the possibility to engage in leisure and recreational activities appropriate for their age;

o the best interests of the child principle is defined;

o obliges Member States to identify applicants with special needs and to indicate the exact nature of those needs in order to ensure they are adequately addressed;

o the obligation of Member States to trace the unaccompanied minors' family members is strengthened.

Qualification Directive (Directive 2011/95/EU)

The Directive 'on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted' was adopted on 13.12.2011 and constitutes the first element of the asylum package. The Directive strengthens the provision on tracing of family members. Moreover, recital 18 of the Directive for the first time contains an indicative list of what is to be taken into consideration to assess the best interest of the child, including the principle of family unity.

Recital 18 — The ‘best interests of the child’ should be a primary consideration of Member States when implementing this Directive, in line with the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In assessing the best interests of the child, Member States should in particular take due account of the principle of family unity, the minor’s well-being and social development, safety and security considerations and the views of the minor in accordance with his or her age and maturity.

Recital 27 — When the applicant is an unaccompanied minor, the availability of appropriate care and custodial arrangements, which are in the best interest of the unaccompanied minor, should form part of the assessment as to whether that protection is effectively available.

Article 31 — Unaccompanied minors

1. As soon as possible after the granting of international protection, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure the representation of unaccompanied minors by a legal guardian or, where necessary, by an organisation responsible for the care and well-being of minors, or by any other appropriate representation including that based on legislation or court order.

2. Member States shall ensure that the minor’s needs are duly met in the implementation of this Directive by the appointed guardian or representative. The appropriate authorities shall make regular assessments.

3. Member States shall ensure that unaccompanied minors are placed either:

(a) with adult relatives; or

(b) with a foster family; or

(c) in centres specialising in accommodation for minors; or

(d) in other accommodation suitable for minors.

In this context, the views of the child shall be taken into account in accordance with his or children's age and degree of maturity.

4. As far as possible, siblings shall be kept together, taking into account the best interests of the minor concerned and, in particular, his or her age and degree of maturity. Changes of residence of unaccompanied minors shall be limited to a minimum.

5. If an unaccompanied minor is granted international protection and the tracing of his or her family members has not already started, Member States shall start tracing them as soon as possible after the granting of international protection, whilst protecting the minor’s best interests. If the tracing has already started, Member States shall continue the tracing process where appropriate. In cases where there may be a threat to the life or integrity of the minor or his or her close relatives, particularly if they have remained in the country of origin, care must be taken to ensure that the collection, processing and circulation of information concerning those persons is undertaken on a confidential basis.

6. Those working with unaccompanied minors shall have had and continue to receive appropriate training concerning their needs.

IV.1.2.Trafficking

Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims (2011/36/EU)

Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA, includes new provisions on particular assistance, support and protection to unaccompanied child victims of trafficking in human beings. The Directive is to be transposed into national law by 6 April 2013.

Recital 23 — Particular attention should be paid to unaccompanied child victims of trafficking in human beings, as they need specific assistance and support due to their situation of particular vulnerability. From the moment an unaccompanied child victim of trafficking in human beings is identified and until a durable solution is found, Member States should apply reception measures appropriate to the needs of the child and should ensure that relevant procedural safeguards apply. The necessary measures should be taken to ensure that, where appropriate, a guardian and/or a representative are appointed in order to safeguard the minor’s best interests. A decision on the future of each unaccompanied child victim should be taken within the shortest possible period of time with a view to finding durable solutions based on an individual assessment of the best interests of the child, which should be a primary consideration. A durable solution could be return and reintegration into the country of origin or the country of return, integration into the host society, granting of international protection status or granting of other status in accordance with national law of the Member States.

Recital 24 — When, in accordance with this Directive, a guardian and/or a representative are to be appointed for a child, those roles may be performed by the same person or by a legal person, an institution or an authority.

Article 13 — General Provisions on assistance, support and protection measures for child victims of trafficking in human beings (including unaccompanied minors)

1. Child victims of trafficking in human beings shall be provided with assistance, support and protection. In the application of this Directive the child’s best interests shall be a primary consideration.

2. Member States shall ensure that, where the age of a person subject to trafficking in human beings is uncertain and there are reasons to believe that the person is a child, that person is presumed to be a child in order to receive immediate access to assistance, support and protection in accordance with Articles 14 and 15.

Article 14 — Assistance and Support to child victims

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the specific actions to assist and support child victims of trafficking in human beings, in the short and long term, in their physical and psycho-social recovery, are undertaken following an individual assessment of the special circumstances of each particular child victim, taking due account of the child’s views, needs and concerns with a view to finding a durable solution for the child. Within a reasonable time, Member States shall provide access to education for child victims and the children of victims who are given assistance and support in accordance with Article 11, in accordance with their national law.

2. Members States shall appoint a guardian or a representative for a child victim of trafficking in human beings from the moment the child is identified by the authorities where, by national law, the holders of parental responsibility are, as a result of a conflict of interest between them and the child victim, precluded from ensuring the child’s best interest and/or from representing the child.

3. Member States shall take measures, where appropriate and possible, to provide assistance and support to the family of a child victim of trafficking in human beings when the family is in the territory of the Member States. In particular, Member States shall, where appropriate and possible, apply Article 4 of Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA to the family.

4. This Article shall apply without prejudice to Article 11.

Article 15 — Protection of child victims of trafficking in human beings in criminal investigations and proceedings

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that in criminal investigations and proceedings, in accordance with the role of victims in the relevant justice system, competent authorities appoint a representative for a child victim of trafficking in human beings where, by national law, the holders of parental responsibility are precluded from representing the child as a result of a conflict of interest between them and the child victim.

2. Member States shall, in accordance with the role of victims in the relevant justice system, ensure that child victims have access without delay to free legal counselling and to free legal representation, including for the purpose of claiming compensation, unless they have sufficient financial resources.

3. Without prejudice to the rights of the defence, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that in criminal investigations and proceedings in respect of any of the offences referred to in Articles 2 and 3:

(a) interviews with the child victim take place without unjustified delay after the facts have been reported to the competent authorities;

(b) interviews with the child victim take place, where necessary, in premises designed or adapted for that purpose;

(c) interviews with the child victim are carried out, where necessary, by or through professionals trained for that purpose;

(d) the same persons, if possible and where appropriate, conduct all the interviews with the child victim;

(e) the number of interviews is as limited as possible and interviews are carried out only where strictly necessary for the purposes of criminal investigations and proceedings;

(f) the child victim may be accompanied by a representative or, where appropriate, an adult of the child’s choice, unless a reasoned decision has been made to the contrary in respect of that person.

4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that in criminal investigations of any of the offences referred to in Articles 2 and 3 all interviews with a child victim or, where appropriate, with a child witness, may be video recorded and that such video recorded interviews may be used as evidence in criminal court proceedings, in accordance with the rules under their national law.

5. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that in criminal court proceedings relating to any of the offences referred to in Articles 2 and 3, it may be ordered that:

(a) the hearing take place without the presence of the public; and

(b) the child victim be heard in the courtroom without being present, in particular, through the use of appropriate communication technologies.

6. This Article shall apply without prejudice to Article 12.

Article 16 — Assistance, support and protection for unaccompanied child victims of trafficking in human beings

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the specific actions to assist and support child victims of trafficking in human beings, as referred to in Article 14(1), take due account of the personal and special circumstances of the unaccompanied child victim.

2. Member States shall take the necessary measures with a view to finding a durable solution based on an individual assessment of the best interests of the child.

3. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, where appropriate, a guardian is appointed to unaccompanied child victims of trafficking in human beings.

4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, in criminal investigations and proceedings, in accordance with the role of victims in the relevant justice system, competent authorities appoint a representative where the child is unaccompanied or separated from its family.

5. This Article shall apply without prejudice to Articles 14 and 15.

The October 2010 Report on the application of Directive 2004/81/EC on the residence permits issued to third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking (COM(2010)493) proposes as one of the possible follow-ups an amendment aimed at strengthening the framework of treatment for minors, including unaccompanied minors. Furthermore, the Commission also plans to examine the possibility of granting residence permits based on the vulnerable situation of the victim regardless of their cooperation with investigating authorities. This category of victims may include unaccompanied minors.

A useful tool in addressing trafficking of human being, including unaccompanied minors, is a website dedicated to anti-trafficking (http://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking) which was launched in December 2010.

The EU Anti-Trafficking Day has been established on 18 October of every year since 2007 and a clear focus is placed on pertinent issues relating to trafficking in human beings. In 2011, the focus of the day was on cooperation between the seven EU agencies working in the field of Justice and Home Affairs (Frontex, Europol, Eurojust, EASO, FRA, EIGE and CEPOL). A Joint Statement was adopted on 18 October 2011 which calls for the commitment to address trafficking in human beings and better coordination and closer cooperation. It also stresses that particular attention and due care should be given to the rights and treatment of vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors. Contact points have been designed in each agency to follow up on the concrete measures to implement the political statement. A first meeting of the contact points is planned for early 2012.

In 2010, the Belgian Presidency organised a conference titled 'Towards a multi-disciplinary approach to prevention of trafficking in human beings, prosecution of traffickers and protection of victims' bringing together politicians, government practitioners and civil society from across EU.

The issue of unaccompanied minors was raised in the context of the integrated EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings (2012-2016), adopted in June 2012.

IV. 1.3. Sexual exploitation of children

Directive 2011/93/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA.[13] The Directive is to be transposed into national law by 18 December 2013. It covers all children, including unaccompanied children coming from third-countries.

Article 20 — Protection of child victims in criminal investigations and proceedings

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that in criminal investigations and proceedings, in accordance with the role of victims in the relevant justice system, competent authorities appoint a special representative for the child victim where, under national law, the holders of parental responsibility are precluded from representing the child as a result of a conflict of interest between them and the child victim, or where the child is unaccompanied or separated from the family.

2. Member States shall ensure that child victims have, without delay, access to legal counselling and, in accordance with the role of victims in the relevant justice system, to legal representation, including for the purpose of claiming compensation. Legal counselling and legal representation shall be free of charge where the victim does not have sufficient financial resources.

IV.1.4. Actions in other areas

The Commission will ensure that EU legislation is correctly implemented and, on the basis of an impact assessment, evaluate whether it is necessary to introduce targeted amendments or a specific instrument setting down common standards on reception and assistance for all unaccompanied minors regarding guardianship, legal representation, access to accommodation and care, initial interviews, education services and appropriate healthcare, etc.

The Commission has continued to check the correct implementation of EU legislation, in particular the Return Directive. In April 2011, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the Directive on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and protecting its victims (Directive on Trafficking in Human Beings). As mentioned above, the Directive includes new provisions providing assistance, support and protection to unaccompanied children who are victims of trafficking. In June 2011, the Commission made proposals for revising the asylum acquis, containing a number of procedural safeguards enhancing the protection of minors, including unaccompanied minors (see above). Negotiations on these proposals are on-going.

The Return Directive makes a difference between those who are already "in" the EU and those who are apprehended when trying to enter the EU ("border cases"). Even though Member States may decide not to apply the Directive to these so-called border cases, this does not lead to a legal vacuum for the migrants concerned: minimum safeguards will have to be respected. If Member States opt not to apply the Directive to this category of persons, they must ensure that the level of protection for affected persons is not less favourable than that set out in the articles of the Directive dealing with limitations on the use of coercive measures, postponement of removal under specific circumstances, emergency health care, taking into account the needs of vulnerable persons, detention conditions, special rules on detention of minors and families, and full respect for the principle of non-refoulement.

Moreover, in relation to asylum, a Comparative report of the FRA on Separated, Asylum-seeking children in European Union Member States, published in November 2010, examined the perspectives and experiences of 336 unaccompanied and separated children and 302 adults responsible for their care in 12 EU Member States. The study covered the children’s living conditions, including: accommodation; the role of social workers; healthcare; education and training; religion, cultural norms and values; recreation and leisure; and social interaction and experiences of racism. It also included information on legal issues and procedures affecting the children, including: legal guardianship and legal representation; age assessment; family tracing and reunification; the asylum procedure; and detention. The questions of the children’s maltreatment and abuse and ‘turning 18’ were also summarily considered in the report, as the research was not initially designed to address them.

The children interviewed were aged between 14 and 18 years, and every effort was made to interview girls and boys with difference ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. The adults interviewed included care workers, social workers, teachers, psychologists, health specialists, legal guardians, legal practitioners, government officials – including law enforcement officers – interpreters and researchers. The FRA research on children is particularly guided by Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which requires the participation of children in decisions which affect them. The report contains ‘Considerations’ regarding the adequate treatment of the children in the host State as well as references to relevant provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and selected international instruments and EU legislation. The report concluded that children's rights, often not clearly reflected in EU legal provisions, are not always fulfilled.

At the Belgian Presidency seminar "Unaccompanied Minors: children crossing the external borders of the EU in search of protection", 9 – 10 December 2010, Brussels, the Fundamental Rights Agency presented a discussion paper on "Protecting from the first encounter unaccompanied and separated children". This discussion paper is based on the study carried out for the above-mentioned Comparative report of the FRA on "Separated, Asylum-seeking children in European Union Member States", but focuses on children’s situation ‘at borders’.

The situation of UAMs at airports and transit zones was discussed during the Conference of Operational Heads of Airports which took place in March 2012 in Rome. The workshop yielded concrete recommendations on how to improve procedures for UAMs at airport borders and transit zones.

The EU should assess different experiences to counter disappearance and promote best practices.

The FRA project on the treatment of third-country nationals at borders has a set of questions to identify how children are dealt with a) during or after rescue/interception at sea and b) at border crossing points. The results will be published at the end of 2012 and in mid-2013 respectively. At the maritime borders, the research analysed the existing mechanism in the Mediterranean countries to identify Unaccompanied and Separated Children, age assessment procedures at borders, and the existence of adequate reception facilities upon arrival. As regards to the border crossing points, the research looks at how the Unaccompanied and Separated Children are dealt with during border checks.

Member States are invited to prioritise the use of missing person alerts in the Schengen Information System for cases of absconding or disappearance from care.

The new section "Provision of descriptive detail on missing minors and other persons assessed as being at risk" was inserted in Commission Implementing Decision 2011/406 of 1.7.2011 amending the SIRENE Manual.

Additionally, further detail on information exchange on the circumstances of a high risk missing person and the circumstances of their disappearance was incorporated in Council document 18161/10 of 5.1.2011 setting out a revised version of the updated catalogue of recommendations for the correct application of the Schengen acquis and best practices (Schengen Information System).

A study on missing children will be carried out by DG Justice in 2012/2013, aiming to collect official data on children going missing in the 27 Member States, including UAMs in institutional care to establish the scale of the issue, collect good practice from Member States and serve as evidence for policies in the field.

Member States are invited to consider introducing review mechanisms to monitor the quality of guardianship in order to ensure that the best interests of the child are represented throughout the decision making process and, in particular, to prevent abuse.

Meeting of the Expert Group on Unaccompanied Minors on guardianship:

On 21 June 2011 the Commission organised the first meeting of the expert group on unaccompanied minors. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Member States, international and non-governmental organisations and EU institutions. The outcome document of the meeting is expected to contribute to the implementation of the existing legislative instruments as well as developing future legislation and policies on unaccompanied children and guardianship (e.g. in the fields of asylum or trafficking).

2011 EU Agenda for the Rights of the Child reiterated the importance of appropriate representation of the child.

Project financed by DAPHNE III Programme: ‘Closing a protection gap: Core Standards for guardians of separated children in Europe’ run by Defence for Children-the Netherlands was finalised in 2011.

The aim of the Core Standards is to harmonize the protection separated children receive from their guardian by focusing on the qualifications of a guardian. The Core Standards should inspire the guardians in their daily work and it offers a goal to work towards. Due to the current guardianship system in some countries there are a lot of hurdles to take to protect the best interest of separated children. The Standards should empower the guardians and should inspire State authorities to adjust the guardianship systems where necessary.

The Comparative report of the FRA on Separated, Asylum-seeking children in European Union Member States, published in November 2010 (see above), has also examined the perspectives and experiences of guardianship of unaccompanied and separated children and adults responsible for their care.

European Asylum Support Office is invited to organise training activities and develop best practices regarding reception conditions, asylum procedures and integration of unaccompanied minors.

The 2012 Work Programme recognises that one of the tasks of the EASO as provided for by the Action Plan for Unaccompanied Minors (2010-2014) is to develop best practice regarding reception conditions, asylum procedures and integration of unaccompanied minors. To this end, the Work Programme lists as one of the objectives for 2012 starting developing best practices concerning these issues (section 4.2.5).

At the June 2012 management board meeting EASO presented their Training Strategy, comprising the principles and procedures that will guide EASO in the implementation of its training mandate. Key to this is the European Asylum Curriculum (EAC), which is a common vocational training system for Asylum Officials in the European Union. Through commonly developed learning material the curriculum covers the whole EU asylum procedure, including specific modules addressing vulnerable groups and minors. Each module comprises on-line studies followed by a face to face session. As such it is an essential tool for Member States delivering initial and follow up training.

During 2011 EASO updated the EAC ‘Interviewing Children’ module. This module addresses training needs of asylum officials so that they are equipped to consider complex issues of gender, trauma and age; it also ensures that interviews with minors are conducted in a child-friendly manner.

In July 2012 an expert meeting on Interviewing techniques & methods was held. As part of the expert meeting, participants (including experts in the field of asylum) were invited to take part in and feedback on the EAC module, ‘interviewing children.’ The outcome will be used as a basis for identifying future development of the module as well as other training needs relating to Unaccompanied Minors.

In September 2012, EASO held an expert meeting on the use of X-ray and other medical examinations for the purposes of age assessment,

In October 2011 EASO worked alongside FRA, IOM & UNHCR in a Frontex-led joint operation focussed on assisting border officials in identifying potential victims of trafficking. Going forward, EASO in cooperation with Frontex, will consider additional possibilities for training activities on handling cases involving children at the external borders of the EU including age and evidence assessment procedures.

Belgian Presidency seminar on 'Unaccompanied Minors: children crossing the external borders of the EU in search of protection', held on 9 – 10 December 2010 in Brussels. The conference was co-financed by the Commission (EBF) and was focussed on protection of children from the first encounter and resulted in a set of Recommendations. At this conference, the FRA presented a background discussion paper on ‘Protecting from the first encounter unaccompanied and separated children: establishing links between actors’, on the basis of a table of contents identified by the Belgian Presidency. This included the identification of key questions relating to: good practice in referral at the border to immediate assistance and reception; which services to provide to unaccompanied minors and which representation is needed for unaccompanied minors (information, reception facilities, tools to prevent disappearance or exploitation; which representation is needed for unaccompanied minors (legal assistance, guardians …), what access to which procedures, how to best coordinate actions by the actors involved, and focal points for unaccompanied minors: which steps are needed next.

Frontex is invited to include a separate paragraph on vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors, in working arrangements to be concluded with third countries.

Frontex is including into its Working Arrangements the requirement that “… in the implementation of the intended cooperation, Frontex and the third country pay full respect to human rights.”

Frontex is invited to provide technical assistance to border authorities in third countries on border related measures regarding unaccompanied minors.

With the amended Frontex Regulation entering into force at the end of 2011, Frontex acquired the mandate on technical assistance to border guard authorities in third countries. The Agency is currently evaluating on how it will implement such technical assistance projects in the future.

The Commission will use available funds effectively, to support European networks of guardians, to exchange best practices and develop guidelines, common curricula and training, etc.

The Commission organised an Expert Group meeting on guardianship (21 June 2011) (see above).

Project financed by DAPHNE III Programme: ‘Closing a protection gap: Core Standards for guardians of separated children in Europe’ run by Defence for Children-the Netherlands was finalised in 2011 (see above).

To call on the Commission and the Member States under the European Fund for the Integration of third country nationals and the European Refugee Fund, to strengthen UAM related actions, mainly in order to establish and improve reception facilities responding to the specific needs of minors, as well as measures for the development of appropriate integration actions.

Under shared management, a number of Member States have foreseen to address the specific situation of UAMs in their annual programmes for both the European Refugee Fund and of the European Fund for the Integration of third country nationals programmes.

· Examples of projects funded:

Project: "Accompagnement Damana-Refugies. MENA (2008-I/AC.13/01, Belgium, 2008, euro). The purpose of the project was to provide unaccompanied minor asylum seekers and refugees with individualised psychosocial and multidisciplinary support facilitating the (re)building of their identity and integration into society; and, through interviews, individualised exchanges and participation in collective activities.

Project: "Professionnaliser l'accompagnement scolaire des MENA" (2008-I/Ac.13/26, Belgium, 2008-2009, € 36.904). The purpose of the project was to professionalize support given to minors with learning difficulties: learning disabilities linked to exile and trauma, illiteracy / lack of education, cultural adaptation, and foreign language. For this, the Training Centre of the CPAS Federation (UVCW) built a plan for collective supervision and for the development of a tool for the multidisciplinary educational team over three years, in close coordination with the CPAS Assesse UAMs Centre.

Under centralised management, the Commission has financed actions concerning unaccompanied minors in the framework of the European Refugee Fund Community Actions.

· Projects funded:

Project: "Best practices for a coordinated approach to assist unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers and former UAMs in EU Member States", implemented by the International Organisation for Migration, 2009, € 379.141,00: the project aims to carry out a comprehensive assessment to identify the most pressing needs among the target group, to identify assistance gaps, and to evaluate current assistance projects and practices as well as capacity and efforts taken to address such gaps; to draft and publish a report summarising findings and providing recommendations for a common approach; to develop informational leaflets targeting UAMs; and to conclude with an international conference to share the findings and the recommended common approach with a wide audience.

Project: "Access of minor asylum seekers (aged 15-18 years old) to the educational system in Europe – Meeting the challenges", implemented by the Hellenic Red Cross; 2009, € 206 964.00: the main objective of the project is to support, influence and improve the existing educational framework in favour of the minor asylum seekers at national and EU level, through a system of interrelated actions and methodological tools.

Project: "European Network of Guardianship Institutions: Guardianship in practice", implemented by the NIDOS Foundation; 2009, € 231.680,00: the objective is to exchange existing methodologies within the ENGI-network, to develop common principles and methodologies and to have these principles accepted within the relevant authorities in the participating Member States (NL, BE, FI, DE, SE, UK).

Project: "Unaccompanied and separated children “on the move” in need of international protection: Addressing protection needs through reception, counselling and referral, and enhancing co-operation between concerned European Union Member States", implemented by the UNHCR; 2010, € 652.614,86: the project aims to develop and promote common measures to address reception, counselling and referral of Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC), providing assistance, child appropriate information, counselling and referral to asylum procedures or other protection mechanisms along one of the most frequently travelled routes of UASC through the EU. UASC will be ‘followed’ by the project partners along that route.

Project: "Improving the Quality of Unaccompanied Minor Asylum Seekers' Guardianship and Care in Central European Countries", implemented by the International Organisation for Migration, 2010, € 295.077,65: the overall objective of the project is to contribute towards the enhancement of the quality of guardianship and harmonization and standardization of the overall assistance and care provided to UAMs in Central European countries in line with the EU Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors, the relevant EU Directives and the Convention on the Rights of Child by conducting a review in Member States (Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria), developing a training manual and curriculum, organising training for trainers and implementing training for guardians.

Under the European Refugee Fund Community Actions 2011 call for proposals the following projects have been granted funding:

Project: "Ensuring effective responses to vulnerable asylum-seekers: promotion of adequate standards for identification and claim determination for people with special needs", to be implemented by the UNHCR, 2011, € 546.840,00 (indicative amount). The project aims to address the specific needs of vulnerable groups and promote high quality decision-making and capacity building in the countries concerned. Its objec