Reception of unaccompanied minors: harmonising practices within the EU

A European project aimed at reviewing practices in four Member States

Through a comparative approach between the four Member States of the consortium, the EUPROM project aims to review the management of UM in the States and identify inspiring practices, while offering recommendations that can be implemented by all Member States. The indirect and long-term objective is to foster a coherent implementation of measures to support UM.

To address the twofold problem, resulting firstly from the increase in the number of minors received and, secondly, the need to improve the reception of refugees and national child protection systems, the EUPROM project had four objectives:

• Compile a theoretical inventory of the specific situations of each Member State of the consortium in terms of the care of unaccompanied minors and agree on a common framework for the project

• From a more operational aspect, identify common difficulties and good practices and define areas for improvement in the care of UM

• Provide training for professionals dealing with UM on the basis of the theoretical information and practices gathered

• Summarise all the elements of the project in a European guide and ensure its distribution  

A guide to disseminate and harmonise practices within the EU

The EUPROM project has led to the preparation of a guide which aims to present the arrangements for the care and protection of unaccompanied minors within the European Union, by highlighting the action of the French, Spanish, Italian and Swedish authorities. The subjects addressed have been grouped by theme in order to provide an answer to the three central questions in the course of the journey of a minor, from their arrival in the European Union to their access to autonomy:

1. How to assess and receive unaccompanied minors in an appropriate manner?

2. How to ensure appropriate protection and care, suited to the specific needs of unaccompanied minors?

3. How to foster the gradual empowerment of the unaccompanied minors taken in charge? 

This guide provides recommendations and a number of inspiring practices, including:

• The distribution of a short information film for UM (Sweden)

• The training of legal guardians (Italy) 

• Access to vocational training under the same conditions as nationals, regardless of the regularity of their administrative situation (Spain) 

• An addiction unit specialised in care for UM (France)

• An emergency service for victims of human trafficking (Spain) and a secure centre for minors who are victims of human trafficking (France).

The complete guide is available on the website of the Ministry of Justice. 

    More about the project EUPROM