Council of the European Union and European Parliament 11 May 2016, Directive (EU) 2016/800 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings

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Directive (EU) 2016/800 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 establishes common minimum rules on procedural safeguards for children (persons under 18) who are suspects, accused persons, or requested persons in criminal proceedings or European arrest warrant proceedings, with the dual aim of ensuring their ability to understand and participate in proceedings and to exercise the right to a fair trial. Key provisions mandate the right to information, mandatory assistance by a lawyer (with limited and strictly circumscribed derogations), individual assessment of the child's specific needs, medical examination upon deprivation of liberty, audiovisual recording of police questioning, limitation of deprivation of liberty to a measure of last resort, and the right to be accompanied by the holder of parental responsibility (droitier de responsabilité parentale). Member States are required to transpose the Directive into national law by 11 June 2019, bear the costs of individual assessments, medical examinations, and audiovisual recordings irrespective of the outcome of proceedings, and submit implementation data to the Commission by 11 June 2021 and every three years thereafter.AI