European Union Mario project partners raise awareness of EU institutions on migrant children's rights

Project : MARIO 26 May 2011 | children on the move protection systems transnational

Brussels, 26 May 2011: Surviving on the streets of Thessaloniki, Greece, many Bulgarian children were witnessed everyday begging at traffic lights, cleaning windscreens, exposed to hardship and homelessness. The same situation is observed in many European cities. A field research by Mario project partners revealing child rights violations was discussed today at the European Parliament in the conference “European Migrant Children: What Protection?” hosted by MEP Mariya Nedelcheva.

“We have to systematically take the best interests of the child as basis for the protection of children from all forms of exploitation, even when the situation is complex and the family’s survival is in danger”, specified Ms. Mariya Nedelcheva, Member of European Parliament (Bulgaria), host and Chair of the conference.

The vulnerabilities of these children were acknowledged by Mr. Michail Tremopoulos, Member of the European Parliament (Greece): “[…] unfortunately, it seems that Bulgarian children working in the streets have no access to the existing limited services also because the latter do not focus in these populations”.

The same situation is observed in many other European cities, not only in Thessaloniki, Greece. “While EU citizens can now move and reside freely in another EU Member State, vulnerable children and their families face a high risk of exploitation and abuses in another country than theirs. Regardless of their origin, they are entitled to care and protection”, said Mr. Pierre Cazenave, Regional Child Rights Officer, Terre des Hommes’ Central and South Eastern Europe office.

Ms. Edit Bauer, MEP and rapporteur on the new EU Anti trafficking directive stressed that “only legislation will not work. What is important to me is shared responsibility and awareness-raising”.

The conference, organised in the framework of the project Mario gathered numerous Members of the European Parliament as well as European Commission officials, Government Representatives and NGOs.