What is it?
The European Commission's Pilot Project on Unaccompanied Minors aims to identify good practice in relation to work with children who enter European Union countries unaccompanied by an adult.
How much is available?
The total amount is EUR1m, with individual grants for between EUR200,000 and EUR1m. This means between one and five projects could be funded. Funding will be made available for up to 90 per cent of the total cost of a project.
What will it fund?
It is intended for a partnership of at least four organisations from at least four European Union countries (excluding Denmark). Two must be central governmental bodies. In addition, local authorities, NGOs, private organisations and university departments can apply, but must work on a non-profit basis and have experience in the field.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate that a project will identify good practice in areas including:
- Ways of preventing groups to which unaccompanied minors belong from entering the EU, such as asylum seekers and victims of trafficking.
- Measures to support safeguarding programmes for unaccompanied minors.
- Procedures on entry, legal representation, appointment of a guardian, access to and adequacy of reception facilities, initial interviews, education and medical care.
- Reintegration of unaccompanied minors in their country of origin.
