Belgium is the leader in temporary protection for minor refugees from Ukraine

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in March 2022, Europe has accepted thousands of refugees, a significant number of whom are unaccompanied minors. Belgium, like many other EU countries, has provided temporary protection status for such children in vulnerable situations. According to the latest data from Eurostat, Belgium accepted 1,600 minor refugees without parents or guardians from March 2022 to September 2024. In this article, we look at how EU countries are coping with this challenge and how protection statuses are distributed among children across Europe.

The situation with refugees from Ukraine

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, millions of people have been forced to flee their homeland, including a significant number of unaccompanied children. It is important to provide them with protection, as they are in a particularly vulnerable situation and require not only security but also social, medical and educational support. Eurostat showed in its latest publication that EU countries are actively responding to this challenge by providing temporary protection for minors, which is part of Europe’s humanitarian efforts in the crisis. Protecting children is not only an international human rights obligation, but also a vital measure to ensure their future.

Statistics and features of providing protection:

• Austria – 2,255 temporary protection statuses for unaccompanied minors.
• Netherlands – 1,705 statuses.
• Lithuania – 1,635 statuses.
• Belgium – 1,600 statuses.
• Croatia has the highest proportion of minors among all refugees, 12.9%.
• According to Eurostat, children account for 32.3% of all beneficiaries of temporary protection as of September 2024.
• The percentage of decisions to grant protection to children increases every quarter, demonstrating the growth of Europe’s humanitarian responsibility.

The prospects for asylum for minors from Ukraine remain relevant as the war continues and the humanitarian situation in the region requires sustained support. In the future, there will likely be an increase in the number of applications for temporary protection, as well as a further expansion of programs to ensure the safety and adaptation of children in EU countries. Europe will continue to work to improve protection mechanisms to ensure children have a safe future and the opportunity to integrate into society.

Significance and impact on refugee children and the international community

The integration of refugee children into a new society is a complex process that includes not only legal and social aspects, but also pedagogical, cultural and psychological ones. After minor refugees receive temporary protection status, they face the need to adapt to a new life in another country. The most important part of integration is ensuring access to education, health care and social support, which helps children feel protected and integrated into society.

Stages of integration of refugee children:

• Obtaining temporary protected status is the first step towards gaining the right to reside and be protected in a new country.
• Education is, first and foremost, access to schooling that is adapted to the needs of children, taking into account language barriers and level of preparation.
• Health care – providing basic health care and psychosocial support to children who have experienced trauma.
• Social adaptation is a social integration program, including assistance in finding housing, social benefits, participation in local cultural and sports activities.
• Psychological support – providing services of psychologists and psychotherapists for children who have experienced traumatic events to help them cope with the effects of stress and adapt.
• Legal assistance – assistance in regulating the legal status of children and their families, as well as in protecting their rights within the framework of international and local legislation.

The integration of refugee children into society faces a number of challenges, such as language barriers, cultural differences, and psychological trauma from war. Despite the efforts of the government and international organizations, it is not always possible to provide equal opportunities for all children, especially in resource-poor regions. It is important to continue to improve integration programs so that these children can fully develop and become productive members of society.

Outlook for 2025

The number of unaccompanied children fleeing is growing every year, and in 2025 the EU and its Member States will have to adapt their asylum and protection systems to take into account new challenges. Importantly, the EU is already expanding its legal framework to better protect minors, following recommendations from international organisations such as the UN and human rights NGOs.

Key outlook for 2025:

• Strengthening legal and social protection: The European Migration Policy is expected to further develop mechanisms to ensure rapid processing of protection status for refugee children. This includes improving procedures to minimise delays and speed up access to education and health care.
• Improving educational programmes: In 2025, work will continue on integrating refugee children into the education systems of EU countries. Given the growing number of such children, the adaptation and education programme will aim to create a more inclusive environment, which will allow children to quickly learn the language and get used to cultural peculiarities.
• Psychological support and integration: In light of the increasing refugee flows, the EU and its member states should increase their focus on the psychological rehabilitation of children affected by war. This will include not only psychotherapeutic assistance, but also the creation of special services aimed at supporting children who have experienced traumatic events.
• Cooperation with NGOs and international organizations: An important factor in the 2025 outlook will be the strengthening of partnerships between government agencies and NGOs working with refugee children. This cooperation will facilitate a better exchange of experiences and the expansion of available services for children.
• Projections for refugee numbers: Given the situation in Ukraine and other conflict zones, refugee numbers, including unaccompanied children, are likely to remain high. This requires the EU to be flexible in adapting and reallocating resources.

2025 will therefore be an important milestone for the EU in creating a more effective system for the protection and integration of refugee children, with a particular focus on education, psychological support and legal protection.