Unaccompanied Minors and “Durable Solutions” in Europe: a critical assessment Seminar

Abstract

In 2015 and 2016 every one in four asylum applicants in the EU was a child. According to EU data 96,000 unaccompanied minors (UAMs) applied for asylum in the EU in 2015. However, EU and national policies protecting this category of migrant children are patchy and fragmented. UAMs arriving to Europe fail to be adequately protected by the key legal and policy systems, such as the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), migration policy, or child protection systems in the Member States. It is often the case that Member States promote measures and policies that prioritize migration and crime control over child protection and humanitarian imperatives. The fundamental challenge for the Member States is to find a ‘durable solution’ (DS) for UAMs that ensures that these children are able to develop into adulthood in an environment which will fulfil their rights as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the best interests of the child. However there are no clear national and European guidelines on what DS amount to, nor on the processes/procedures that lead to their determination.

We propose a multi-method, multi-disciplinary study to examine the methodology (processes/procedures) employed for the adoption of DS for UAMs, as well as the solutions themselves, and the extent to which these are consistent with a child rights approach. We will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect empirical data on current policy and practice relating to DS for UAMs used in 3 European countries (UK, Germany and Greece) and we will seek the views and experiences from those involved in adopting and administrating assessments and procedures (top-down dimension) and those of the UAMs themselves (bottom-up dimension). As such, this research will draw on insights from psychology, public policy, social policy and law.