Missing children

11.6.2015

Question for written answer E-009480-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Aldo Patriciello (PPE)

In light of:

• —the Council Resolution on the contribution of civil society in finding missing or sexually exploited children (2001/C 283/01);
• —the UN Convention of 1989 on the Rights of the Child;
• —the reports by the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children;

and considering:

• —that initiatives such as the establishment of the 116 000 hotline to report missing children and offer guidance and support to their families are welcomed;
• —that 270 000 children go missing in Europe every year, equivalent to one every two minutes;
• —that in 2014 alone, in Europe, the 116 000 hotline handled 6 119 cases of missing children, and there were many different reasons for these disappearances,

— does the Commission intend to create a European authority to coordinate reports issued by the national authorities of the Member States?

— will it call on those Member States who do not yet have an official body to deal with such matters to establish one as soon as possible?

— in order that this European authority can be as effective as possible, will the Commission ensure that it also has the power to operate outside of Europe?