Question for written answer E-015276-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Alfred Sant (S&D)

Subject: Comprehensive strategy on missing and unaccompanied children
The European Agenda on Migration, adopted on 13 May 2015, stated that ‘in order to look at the specific vulnerabilities of children, not only those having a migrant’s background, the Commission will develop a comprehensive strategy to follow up on the action plan on Unaccompanied Minors (2011-2014) to cover missing and unaccompanied children’.
After six months, this comprehensive strategy has not yet been adopted.
The adoption and implementation of this comprehensive strategy is made even more urgent by the increasing numbers of migrant children, particularly unaccompanied children, who are exposed to great suffering and terrible risks both during and after the voyage to Europe.
Parliament, EASO, FRA, Eurojust, Europol, Frontex, the most active international organisations and NGOs and, of course, Member States should or could be involved in the development and/or implementation of this comprehensive strategy.
In view of the above, we would ask the Commission to state:

whether it intends to adopt such a comprehensive strategy and, if so, when;

whether it intends to be involved in the development and implementation of this strategy and, if so, how; and whether it also intends to involve the abovementioned EU institutions, bodies and agencies, international organisations, NGOs and states.

EN
E-015276/2015
Answer given by Mr Avramopoulos
on behalf of the Commission
(22.8.2016)

On 10 February 2016, the Commission adopted a Communication on the state of play of the implementation of the European Agenda on Migration [1], which refers to a comprehensive approach to the protection of children, both unaccompanied children and those with their families. The work is under way, aiming at protection of children throughout the migration chain. This includes actions of EU Agencies and takes account of input from International Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and Member States and of the views of the European Parliament.

In the meantime, the Commission has started to implement some key steps announced in the Communication:

The third report on Relocation and Resettlement [2] pays particular attention to the situation of unaccompanied minors when implementing the hotspot approach and carrying out relocation;
The Commission has stepped up the capacity for the EU to provide humanitarian assistance to third countries, for example announcing EUR 445 million in humanitarian aid for the Syria crisis in 2016 [3], and
On 2 March 2016, the Commission proposed an Emergency support instrument for humanitarian purposes, providing EUR 700 million over the next three years, to be used within the European Union to provide a faster, more targeted response to major crises, including helping Member States cope with large numbers of refugees; the Council adopted this proposal on 15 March 2016 [4];
The Commission will target funding to strengthen protection responses for children in migration, including education and protection programmes for children inside and outside the EU.

1. COM(2016) 85 final
2. COM(2016) 360 final
3. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-824_en.htm
4. Regulation (EU) 2016/369, OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, p. 1.

Maltese Version – E-015276-15

Suġġett: Strateġija komprensiva dwar tfal neqsin u mhux akkumpanjati

L-Aġenda Ewropea dwar il-Migrazzjoni, adottata fit-13 ta’ Mejju 2015, iddikjarat li “sabiex tqis il-vulnerabilitajiet tat-tfal, mhux biss ta’ dawk li għandhom sfond ta’ migranti, il-Kummissjoni se tiżviluppa strateġija komprensiva bħala segwitu għall-Pjan ta’ Azzjoni dwar Minuri mhux Akkumpanjati (2011-2014) biex ikopri tfal neqsin u mhux akkumpanjati”.
Wara sitt xhur din l-istrateġija komprensiva għadha ma ġietx adotatta.
L-adozzjoni u l-implimentazzjoni ta’ din l-istrateġija komprensiva hija magħmula aktar urġenti minħabba n-numru dejjem jiżdied ta’ tfal migranti, partikolarment tfal mhux akkumpanjati, li huma esposti għal tbatija kbira ferm u riski terribbli kemm waqt kif ukoll wara l-vjaġġ lejn l-Ewropa.
Il-Parlament, l-EASO, l-FRA, Eurojust, Europol, Frontex, l-organizzazzjonijiet internationali l-aktar attivi u l-NGOs u, naturalment, l-Istati Membri għandhom jew jistgħu jkunu involuti fl-iżvilupp u/jew l-implimentazzjoni ta’ din l-istrateġija komprensiva.
Fid-dawl ta’ dan ta’ hawn fuq, qed nitolbu lill-Kummissjoni tiddikjara:

jekk għandhiex il-ħsieb li tadotta tali strateġija komprensiva u, jekk iva, meta;

jekk għandhiex il-ħsieb li tkun involuta fl-iżvilupp u l-implimentazzjoni ta’ din l-istrateġija u, jekk iva, kif; u jekk għandhiex il-ħsieb ukoll li tinvolvi l-istituzzjonijiet, l-entitajiet u l-aġenziji tal-UE, l-organizzazzjonijiet internazzjonali, l-NGOs u l-Istati msemmija hawn fuq.

MT
E-015276/2015
Tweġiba mogħtija mis-Sur Avramopoulos
f’isem il-Kummissjoni
(22.8.2016)

Fl-10 ta’ Frar 2016, il-Kummissjoni adottat Komunikazzjoni dwar l-istat attwali tal-implimentazzjoni tal-Aġenda Ewropea dwar il-Migrazzjoni [1], li tirreferi għal approċċ komprensiv għall-protezzjoni tat-tfal, kemm it-tfal mhux akkumpanjati u dawk akkompanjati mill-familji tagħhom. Bħalissa qed isseħħ din il-ħidma, bl-użu ta’ approċċ komprensiv għall-protezzjoni tat-tfal tul il-katina tal-migrazzjoni. Din tinkludi lista ta’ azzjonijiet tal-aġenziji tal-UE u tikkunsidra l-kontribut minn organizzazzjonijiet internazzjonali, organizzazzjonijiet mhux governattivi u l-Istati Membri u l-opinjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew.

Sadanittant, il-Kummissjoni bdiet timplimenta għadd ta’ passi ewlenin imħabbra fil-Komunikazzjoni:

It-Tielet Rapport dwar ir-Rilokazzjoni u r-Risistemazzjoni [2] jagħti attenzjoni partikolari lis-sitwazzjoni ta’ minuri mhux akkumpanjati meta jimplimentaw l-approċċ hotspot u t-twettiq ta’ rilokazzjoni;
Il-Kummissjoni żiedet il-kapaċità tal-UE li tipprovdi għajnuna umanitarja lil pajjiżi terzi, pereżempju li tħabbar EUR 445 miljun f’għajnuna umanitarja għall-kriżi tas-Sirja fl-2016 [3], u
Fit-2 ta’ Marzu 2016, il-Kummissjoni pproponiet strument ta’ appoġġ ta’ emerġenza għal skopijiet umanitarji, billi pprovdiet EUR 700 miljun matul it-tliet snin li ġejjin, biex jintużaw fl-Unjoni Ewropea biex ikun hemm rispons aktar malajr u aktar immirat għal kriżijiet maġġuri, fosthom biex ikunu megħjuna l-Istati Membri biex ilaħħqu ma’ għadd kbir ta’ refuġjati; il-Kunsill adotta din il-proposta fil-15 ta’ ta’ Marzu 2016 [4];
Il-Kummissjoni se tiffoka l-finanzjament biex issaħħaħ ir-rispons protettiv fir-rigward tat-tfal f’migrazjoni, fosthom lejn il-programmi tal-edukazzjoni u tal-protezzjoni għat-tfal kemm ġewwa kif ukoll barra l-UE.

1. COM(2016) 85 final
2. COM(2016) 360 final
3. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-824_en.htm
4. Regulation (EU) 2016/369, OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, p. 1.

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