19 Amendments of Josef WEIDENHOLZER related to 2012/2263(INI)
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
- having regard to the Guidelines on Policies and Procedures in dealing with Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1997,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas these minors, as children seeking international protection, are by definition extremely vulnerable and whereas it is necessary to ensure that their fundamental rights are respected;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that any person below the age of 18 years, without exception, is to be regarded as a child and thus as a minor;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the adoption by the Commission of an action plan on unaccompanied minors 2010-2014; deplores, however, the fact that the Commission’s approach is not based more on protecting the fundamental rights of such minors and notes that the existing measures are not sufficient and the comprehensive protection of unaccompanied minors requires further measures;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deplores the lack of reliable official data on unaccompanied minors; calls on the Member States and the European Union, in line with current data protection rules, to establish a coordinated method for gathering information in each Member State, by means of platforms bringing together all parties involved in the problem of unaccompanied minors, and to draw up a list of national contact points; stresses that the sole purpose of gathering data must be to improve the situation of unaccompanied minors, and law enforcement authorities must on no account be given access to the data obtained;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the European Union and Member States ought to step up their cooperation with third countries of origin and transit concerning the problem of unaccompanied minors, preventing their arrival, combating trafficking, irregular immigratiocombating trafficking, improving the situation in the country of origin, restoration of family ties, return and readmission, in the context of the regular dialogues conducted between the European Union and these States and the European External Action Service (EEAS);
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that minors should be repatriated only where there is no risk to their physical and mental health and a suitable carer in the country of origin has agreed and is in a position to take responsibility for the minor when he or she arrives in the country of origin; stresses further that the repatriating EU Member State's responsibility for the unaccompanied minor does not completely end when the minor is repatriated;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that combating trafficking in human beings is a necessary first step, as minors are particularly confronted with the risks of trafficking, gender-specific violence and exploitation and because action should also be taken in third countries to tackle the root causes of trafficking; calls, therefore, on all EU Member States, if they have not yet done so, to implement Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA, which contains specific provisions on protecting unaccompanied minors who are victims of human trafficking;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Deplores the unsuitable and intrusive nature of the medical techniques used to ascertain age in some Member States, which may in themselves cause traumas; recommends that the Commission establish a commonsuitable methods for ascertaining age, consisting of a multidisciplinary assessment performed by independent, trained practitioners, and with minors always being given the benefit of the doubt; considers that it should be possible to appeal against the results of this assessment; welcomes the work of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) on this subject, which should be taken as a basis for dealing with all minors;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on Member States, as soon as a minor arrives within their territory and until a lasting solution has been found, to appoint a person responsible for accompanying, assisting and representing him in all procedures; calls furthermore for this person to have specific training in the problems associated with unaccompanied minors and to act completely independently; calls for minors to be informed of the appointment of the person responsible for them as soon as possible after their arrival in a Member State's territory; calls on the Commission to establish common standards concerning the mandate, functions, qualifications and skills of this person;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Stresses that the person responsible for the minor should inform and advise them, but can only supplement legal advice and cannot replace it;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 1
Paragraph 16 – indent 1
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 3
Paragraph 16 – indent 3
– the right to education, vocational training and socio-educational advice; the possibility to attend school in the host country should be ensured without delay; in addition, unaccompanied minors should where necessary be given free access to language courses, above all in the relevant language of the host country, immediately after their arrival on the territory of a Member State;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 4
Paragraph 16 – indent 4
– the right to health: the Member States should guarantee free access to adequate basic health care and, in addition, provide adequate medical and psychological care for minors who have been victims of torture, sexual abuse or other forms of violence;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 4 a (new)
Paragraph 16 – indent 4 a (new)
- stresses the right of all unaccompanied minors to the continued use and development of their own identity and values, including their mother tongue;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the progress which has been made in asylum legislation; recalls, however, that unaccompanied minors should always be exempted from expedited procedures and from procedures at the border; stresses that it is also crucial, given the specific needs of unaccompanied minors, that their asylum applications should be given priority and processed swiftly within the normal system, so that a fair decision can be taken as quickly as possible; recalls also that the State responsible for an asylum application by an unaccompanied minor should always be the State of the most recent asylum application;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses firmly that the ultimate aim, once an unaccompanied minor has arrived in European territory, must be to seek an appropriate solution for him, which respects his interests; recalls that efforts to achieve this must always begin with an examination of the possibilities of family reunification; stresses that in principle the minor can be asked to help in searching for family members but that there must not be any obligation to cooperate as a determining factor in the consideration of the application for international protection; recalls that, in cases where there is a risk to the life of the minor or of family members, in particular where family members remain in the country of origin, the gathering, processing and passing-on of information on these persons must be done on a confidential basis in order not to endanger the lives of those concerned;