Unaccompanied minor aliens: the case of Lithuania

ENThis article analyzes the situation of unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers and non-asylum seekers, coming to the Republic of Lithuania from third countries. Outside the scope of the investigation are unaccompanied minors who are: citizens of the European Union, a Member State of the European Free Trade Association or other persons who exercise the right of free movement of persons in accordance with the legal acts of the European Union, or family members of a citizen of the European Union, a Member State of the European Free Trade Association or a person exercising the right of free movement in accordance with European Union legislation, or third country nationals legally present in the Republic of Lithuania. The article also presents the legal and social aspects of the entry of unaccompanied minors into the Republic of Lithuania. The aim is to identify the activity of the institutions through the involvement and implementation of procedures (appointment of a legal representative, accommodation, interviewing, age determination, search for family members or other legal representatives, granting asylum procedures, etc.), when the arrival of an unaccompanied minors is established, identify problems and propose possible solutions. This theme was chosen because of the end of May, 2021 over 1,000 migrant minors entered the country illegally.