Unaccompanied Minors in Migration Process

The issue of unaccompanied minors crossing the EU external borders and entering into the EU irregularly is becoming more and more visible problem. The Frontex Annual Risk Assessment (ARA) 2009 highlighted that in 2008, 35% of the Egyptian irregular migrants intercepted in Lampedusa, were unaccompanied minors. The phenomenon also affected other routes, for instance, the Joint Operation Hera 2008 recorded an increase of minors suspected of being victims of trafficking for forced labour. Considering that minors continue to be targeted by smuggling and trafficking networks (for criminal purposes such as unlawful adoption, paedophilia, prostitution, begging, organ transplants, etc.) a need was expressed for a greater coherence of European legislation to address the problem. Therefore the European Commission announced in June 2009 the adoption of an Draft Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors in the Migration Process (COM 2009, 262 final).