Study on the requirements specific to children travelling alone or accompanied, legally entering or leaving the Member States/associated countries : Final report

This study examined the legislation and practices in all 31 EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries concerning the requirements specific to minors, travelling alone or accompanied, legally entering or leaving the Member States/associated countries. The so-called Passport Regulation1 as amended by Regulation EC no 444/20092 contains a request for the Commission to present a report on this topic and, if necessary, appropriate initiatives in order to ensure a common approach regarding the rules for the protection of children crossing the external borders of the Member States/Associated Countries. Against this background, the task of the study was to point out where the legislation and practices of the study countries differ from each other, and whether some gaps or problem areas exist. The study has also assessed the functioning of the "one person-one passport" principle, as set out in Article 1(1) of the modified Passport Regulation, particularly regarding border crossings of children. The aim of the study is to provide conclusions based on the views of border guards and other stakeholders about the benefits and potential gaps related to this principle. The study was conducted through desk research, more than 200 interviews and 11 case studies in the period from December 2011 to December 2012 by a consortium consisting of Ramboll Management Consulting (lead contractor) and Eurasylum Ltd