As of February 29, thousands of unaccompanied children need to be relocated from Greece. To this, certain rules must be laid down to determine into which European country to send children. These rules must take children’s interests and circumstances into account. Relocation is crucial especially for those who with international protection needs, but the following principles need to be applied to all of them:

  • The child’s interest has priority
  • Individual factors (age, gender etc.)
  • Do no further harm
  • The child’s opinion 
  • Those who are eligible for family reunification should be supported accordingly
  • Coordination between the country of asylum and of relocation

Additionally, it also has to be in focus what difficulties children face in current transit. 

There are criteria for identification and prioritization, as well, namely:

  • International protection is needed if the process of determination of refugee status is not complete yet
  • Individual characteristics: age, gender, special medical needs, disability status
  • Length of the process to be completed: how much time it takes to complete the relocation/unification/asylum
  • Child’s opinion and viewpoint

We also have to mention some complicating factors, as follows:

  • Changes in vulnerability and in the child’s circumstances, relying on old case files
  • Integrating factors (language, education, community). These factors must be clarified.
  • Challenges in child protection services in Greece (delay in progress, current pandemic situation) 
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