Although the trend is declining, Albanian parents do not hesitate to send their unaccompanied children to one of the European Union countries to seek asylum. 

Eurostat data show that in 2021 there were 70 asylum applications from unaccompanied Albanian children. This number is almost the same as in 2020 (75) and more than twice lower than in 2019, when 160 applications were registered. 

However, in relation to other countries in the region, Albania continues to hold the record. In 2021, Northern Macedonia had 5 applications, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina had none and Kosovo registered 20 applications from unaccompanied children. 

Belgium was the most preferred country for the applications of Albanian minors, with 25 such, followed by Sweden, Greece and Germany, each with 10 each. Until 2019, Germany and France led. 

According to Eurostat, in 2021, there were 23 255 asylum seekers who were considered unaccompanied minors, with a 72% increase compared to 2020 (13 550). To a large extent, this increase was caused by the increase in the number of juveniles unaccompanied by Afghanistan (12,270 in 2021 compared to 5,495 in 2020). 

Among the 23,255 unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in 2021, the majority (93%) were male. 68% were aged 16 to 17 years, while those aged 14 to 15 years accounted for 23% and those aged under 14 years 9%. 

Austria accounted for 24% of all asylum seekers considered as unaccompanied minors in the EU. It was followed by Germany, Bulgaria (both 14%), Greece (10%), Belgium and Romania (both by 8%). 

In 2021, based on available data, 5,070 unaccompanied minors applying for asylum received EU protection status. Of these, 48% were granted additional protection, 34% were granted refugee status and 18% received humanitarian protection. 

The largest group of asylum seekers considered unaccompanied minors in the EU in 2021 were Afghans (53% of the total number of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the EU). They were followed by Syrians (16%) and Bangladesh (6%). 

(Source: Monitor)