European Commission: report published for Parliament and the Council on the requirements for children crossing the borders of the Member States, 2 August 2013

Date: 
Friday, October 4, 2013

The report presents the various requirements in EU and national law and policy 'aiming at securing border crossings of children, safeguarding their rights as well as fighting against abduction and trafficking', and makes recommendations. It expresses support for the implementation of the 'one person-one passport' requirement, as replacing the 'family passport'. The Commission does not endorse a proposed requirement that the names of the child's legal guardian(s) be included in the child's passport. Nor does the Commission see it fit to require third country national children to have an individual passport. The Commission does not propose more detailed EU-level guidance for border officials. While the report does not support or oppose an EU-wide parental authorisation for crossing children, it does encourage the provision by Member States of more reliable information to migrants about whether parental authorisation is required. The Commission also urges Member States to develop 'national coordination mechanisms' for coping with the variety of risks encountered by border guards. Finally, Member States and Frontex are asked to improve their collection of statistics on children crossing borders.

Read the full text of the report here.


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Keywords: 
Trafficking in human beings
Unaccompanied minor
Tags: 
European Commission