This EMN study maps the progress made by EU Member States and Norway in 2019 in the implementation of the recommended actions of the European Commissin (EC) on the protection of children in migration. The study provides insight into the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations laid down in the 2017 Commission Communication of 2017. In a supplementary benchmark EMN Netherlands compares the Dutch study results with those of other Member States ) and Norway. What are the most relevant similarities and differences?
EMN study | Young migrants Europe
EMN study: Children in migration in Europe
Update with benchmark EMN Netherlands: 13 July 2021
Scope EMN study 'Children in Migration'
The scope of this study is limited to migrant children in the categories set out in the 2017 Communication:
- Accompanied minors/families with children
- Separated children
- Unaccompanied minors, including those:
- recorded within the asylum system
- not applying for asylum but recorded within other migration procedures
- not applying for asylum, who remain outside the asylum/migration/(child) protection system
There is a distinction between the latter two categories but they may overlap and the terms may be used interchangeably (e.g. in Finland, an asylum-seeking child accompanied by other adult family members is considered an unaccompanied minor).
Research questions
- How do EU Member States protect children in migration nd what is the state of implementation of the 2017 Commission Communication?
- What measures are in place in elation to the identification and reception of children from third countries?
- How is guardianship organised at national level and hat safeguards are in place for the return of minors?
Participating countries
Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Bulgaria (BG), Cyprus (CY), Czech Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Estonia (EE), Greece (EL), Spain (ES), Finland (FI), France (FR), Croatia (HR), Hungary (HU), Ireland (IE), Italy (IT), Latvia (LV), Luxembourg (LU), Lithuania (LT), Malta (MT), Netherlands (NL), Norway (NO), Poland (PL), Portugal (PT), Sweden (SE), Slovenia (SI), Slovakia (SK).
Participating ngo's
Missing Children Europe, European Network on Statelessness, Red Cross (EU Office), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Defence for Children International Belgium, Project Play, PICUM, Refugee Rights Europe
Study period
The Report reflects the legislation, policies and practices in place in Member States and Norway from 1 January to 31 December 2019.
EMN Publications 'Children in Migration'
- EMN Synthesis Report, 10 March 2021
- EMN Inform (summary Synthesis Report), 10 March 2021
- EMN Flash #15-2021 (introduction to the study), 10 March 2021
Publications EMN Netherlands 'Children in migration'
- Benchmark EMN Netherlands (English): 'Protection of minor migrants in Europe, the situation in the Netherlands compared to other EU Member States', 23 september 2021
- Benchmark EMN Netherlands (Dutch), the situation in The Netherlands compared to other EU Member States: 'Bescherming van minderjarige migranten in Europa, de situatie in Nederland vergeleken met andere EU-lidstaten', 13 July 2021
- News item benchmark EMN Netherlands (with summary, Dutch): 'Bescherming van minderjarige migranten in Europa, de situatie in Nederland vergeleken met andere EU-lidstaten', 13 July 2021
- National contribution of EMN Netherlands to the EMN study on ‘Children in Migration', reflecting the legislation, policies and practices that have been put in place in the Netherlands from 1 January 2019 until 31 December 2019
