The impact of the best interests of a child principle on aslyum decision-making

Načelo otrokove največje koristi leži v središču določb skupnega evropskega azilnega sistema, ki so namenjene posebni obravnavi mladoletnih prosilcev za mednarodno zaščito kot posebno ranljive skupine posameznikov. Magistrsko diplomsko delo preučuje, na kakšen način in v kolikšni meri načelo otrokove največje koristi, ki izhaja tako iz mednarodnega prava kot primarnega prava Evropske unije, vpliva na zakonodajne rešitve na področju mednarodne zaščite ter njihovo uveljavljanje v praksi. Delo se osredotoča na vprašanji zagotavljanja ustreznih sprejemnih pogojev in posebnih procesnih garancij v postopku pridobivanja mednarodne zaščite, posebej pa se posveča vprašanju vpliva varovanja otrokove največje koristi na vsebinsko presojo prošenj za mednarodno zaščito, ki v slovenski sodni praksi ostaja sporno. Magistrsko diplomsko delo analizo umešča v širši kontekst razvoja koncepta otrokovih pravic, katerega nihanje med skrajnim protekcionizmom in skrajnim liberacionizmom je zaznati tudi v zakonodajnih rešitvah ter praksi na področju mednarodne zaščite. Kot možno rešitev za ustrezno zagotavljanje tako tistih pravic, ki so namenjene varovanju otrokove dobrobiti, kot tistih, ki so namenjene sodelovanju otrok pri odločitvah, ki jih zadevajo, magistrsko diplomsko delo predlaga celostno in dosledno spoštovanje načela otrokove največje koristi v vseh postopkih v zvezi z mladoletniki.The principle of the best interests of a child lies at the core of the Common European asylum system\u27s provisions, aimed at ensuring special treatment of minor asylum applicants as a particularly vulnerable group. The following thesis examines how and to what extent the best interests of a child principle which derives from international law as well as from primary law of the European union impacts the legislation and practice in the field of international protection. It focuses on issues of adequate standards for the reception of applicants for international protection and special procedural guarantees and pays particular attention to the question of the influence of the best interests of a child principle on the assessment of asylum applications which remains contentious in Slovenian jurisprudence. The thesis places its analysis in a wider context of the concept of children\u27s rights since its oscillations between extreme protectionism and extreme liberationism are still present and influence the legislation and practice in the field of international protection. The thesis proposes that the key to ensuring full enjoyment of both the rights which protect the welfare of children and the rights which allow children to participate in decisions affecting them is a comprehensive and consistent application of the child\u27s best interests principle in all decisions concerning minors

Child’s best interests – a charter right or (only) a charter principle?

Listina EU o temeljnih pravicah v prvem odstavku 51. člena in petem odstavku 52. člena uvaja razlikovanje med pravicami in načeli. Čeprav je bilo to razlikovanje eno pomembnejših vprašanj v procesu snovanja njenega besedila, iz Listine ni mogoče razbrati niti tega, katere izmed določb so načela in katere pravice, niti pravnih posledic take razmejitve. Oblikovanje meril in klasifikacija posameznih določb je torej v rokah Sodišča EU, vendar sodna praksa (še) ne ponuja jasnih zaključkov. Ena od določb, katerih pravna narava ostaja nejasna, je tudi drugi odstavek 24. člena Listine, ki določa, naj se pri vseh ukrepih, ki se nanašajo na otroke, upoštevajo predvsem njihove koristi. Avtorica se v prispevku na podlagi razmeroma skope sodne prakse ter relevantne literature opredeljuje do pravne narave navedene določbe ter pravnih posledic njene klasifikacije.The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights draws a distinction between rights and principles in Articles 51(1) and 52(5). Although the distinction was one of the most important questions in the process of drafting the Charter, it fails to provide criteria for identifying rights and principles and does not clarify the legal consequences of the differentiation. The creation of clear criteria and the characterisation of a Charter provision either as a right or as a principle is, therefore, in the hands of the CJEU, but the case law leaves many questions unanswered. Article 24(2), which states that the child’s best interests must be a primary consideration in all actions relating to children, is one of the provisions the characterisation of which remains unclear. Drawing on both the existing case law and the relevant literature, the author examines the legal nature of the said provision and the legal consequences of its characterisation