Large numbers migrant and refugee children have arrived in the European Union in recent years, fleeing from civil wars, poverty and persecution or search for better opportunities. Authorities at national and EU level have faced difficult challenges and were frequently overwhelmed. But a solid body of promising practice and valuable experience is emerging across Europe.

The five promising practices are:

• Extending the type of reception arrangements available for unaccompanied and separated children through models of community-based care in Greece
• Ensuring quality standards in reception arrangements for children and their families in Germany
• Building guardianship systems in Italy and ensure the views of children are heard
• Ensuring children have access to health, education and child protection services, regardless of their immigration status (Local authorities)
• Supporting the identification of better informed durable solutions for children through child-specific information on their countries of origin (The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden)

They have a common focus on strengthening both child protection systems and access to those systems. Four of the five case studies have been developed or supported by the European Union institutions or by national and/or local authorities with UNICEF involvement, enabling UNICEF to share insights into both the practical challenges and opportunities involved in their development and implementation. One promising practice draws on UNICEF’s work on the need to tackle children’s lack of access to basic services because of their status as migrants.