This activity is a follow-up to the
Council of Europe Regional conference on “Migration of unaccompanied
minors: acting in the best interests of the child”, organised in Malaga,
on 27 and 28 October 2005.

Its objective is to develop
policies and practices in respect of unaccompanied migrant minors whose
status has been determined or is in the process of determination by the
competent authorities.

The Ad hoc Advisory Group on
unaccompanied migrant minors (life projects) (MG-S-MNA) has been set up
to undertake to review policy and practice in member states and to
prepare a proposal for a draft recommendation of the Committee of
Ministers.

Terms of
reference

The Ad hoc Advisory Group has the
following tasks:

i. To consider existing policies
and practices designed to promote life projects for unaccompanied
migrant minors who are outside their family environment and whose
development has been hampered by their migration.

ii. To make proposals in the form
of a draft recommendation giving guidance to the competent authorities
on how to:

help unaccompanied migrant minors in developing
life goals, taking account where possible of their ambitions;

develop individual plans intended to help
unaccompanied migrant minors achieve their life goals;

promote the integration of unaccompanied migrant
minors in the host society or their re-integration in their country of
origin ;

overcome the particular difficulties faced by
unaccompanied migrant minors in areas such as family reunification,
access to education and healthcare and to prepare them for the labour
market.

iii. To make proposals on how to
ensure the effective communication of its recommendations to government
policy makers and professionals working with unaccompanied migrant
minors.

The Ad hoc Advisory Group is
composed of experts from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Hungary,
Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

The expert from Albania of the
European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS) participates in the work
of the Group.

The European Union and the
following organisations are also invited to participate in the work of
the Group:

The terms of reference of the Ad
hoc Advisory Group expire on 31.12.2006

Progress

MG-S-MNA

The Ad hoc Advisory Group has held
two meetings in 2006. At its 3rd meeting held in November 2006 the Ad
hoc Advisory Group adopted the final text of a draft recommendation.

CDMG

The
committee approved on 16 May 2007 and sent to the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe the draft recommendation
on life projects for unaccompanied migrant minors and its explanatory
memorandum

CM

Adoption by the
Committee of Ministers of the Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)9 to
member states on life projects for unaccompanied migrant minors, 12 July
2007