Vulnerable and voiceless in the move: Unaccompanied child migrants in the EU

A significant part of child migration is “often invisible in data and policy”, but available […]

Policy Brief

10/01/2018

A significant part of child migration is “often invisible in data and policy”, but available data shows that at least 5.3% of the over one million migrants who have lodged first time asylum application in the EU in 2016 were unaccompanied children in need of international protection and that the numbers are constantly rising. In spite of this alarming trend, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) still suffer in Europe – particularly in Greece and Italy – seriously inadequate protection, inappropriate services to meet their needs and interests, as well as slow and poor procedures to process their files and ensure them asylum status, family reunification, or relocation, according to their needs. Such dysfunctionalities often encourage young migrants to escape the system and continue their journey relying on smugglers, with the additional risk of becoming victims of abuse and exploitation. The European Union should overcome the Member States’ increasing lack of solidarity and expand the EU regular migration package, starting from the family reunification procedures.

Find all related publications
Publications
16/11/2023

The political economy of migration policies

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the question of migration across the EU has been somehow downplayed. […]
18/10/2023

Beyond humanitarian aid: the EU’s approach to alleviating food crisis in the Sahel at a time of global insecurity

'12 years of crises in the Sahel' series
11/10/2023

Forging Europe’s leadership

Global trends, Russian aggression and the risk of a regressive world
06/10/2023

Communicating on migration

Policy Brief series
Find all related events
Events
Past
29/11/2023
Helsinki, Finland (Hybrid)

From Russia’s aggression to progressive recovery of Ukraine

How to ensure Ukraine’s democratic future?
20/11/2023
Vienna, Austria (Expert meeting)

Conflict, leadership and change: Europe’s response to Russian aggression and global shifts

'Forging Europe's Leadership' book launch
15/11/2023
Online

State of the Unions

Ties that bind: Testing the resilience of US-EU relations in an age of turbulence
Find all related news
News
22/11/2023

Ann Linde is FEPS’ new Foreign Affairs Special Advisor

Ann Linde, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, becomes Special Advisor on Foreign Affairs […]
14/09/2023

FEPS President at the SDG Summit and United Nations General Assembly in New York

FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues is in New York this week on the occasion of […]
12/09/2023

Call for tender – Research and analysis for the project “Progressive paths to rebuild Ukraine”

This call for tender closed on 26/09/2023
19/07/2023

President Lula da Silva meets with FEPS and Plataforma CIPÓ

The Brazilian President was present in Brussels in the context of the EU-CELAC Summit
Find all related in the media
In the media

Une réforme de l’UE qui intéressera forcément les Suisses

by Le Temps 24/11/2023
'EU reform bound to be of interest to the Swiss', an opinion piece in Le Temps on EU Treaties changes by Maria João Rodrigues, FEPS President, Guillaume Klossa, Director of think tank EuropaNova and Daniela Schwarzer, Executive board member Bertelsmann Stiftung

« Le moment est venu de lancer un débat sur la réforme de l’Union européenne »

by Le Monde 22/11/2023
'The time has come to launch a debate on the reform of the European Union', an opinion piece in Le Monde on Eu Treaties changes by Maria João Rodrigues, FEPS President, Guillaume Klossa, Director of think tank EuropaNova and Daniela Schwarzer, Executive board member Bertelsmann Stiftung

Is it time to turn down the volume on the migration debate?

by IPS Journal 13/11/2023
IPS Journal article about FEPS policy briefs 'Communicating on migration'

A Europa em tempo de guerras

by Público 06/11/2023
'Europe in times of wars'. With two wars unfolding in the European neighbourhood, FEPS President, Maria João Rodrigues, reflects in Público on the EU's capacity to play its role as a major international actor and exert its own strategic autonomy