Recruitment of children by organised crime

Amendments tabled for the plenary sitting on this text, in their own numbering series. This is a different set from the committee amendments tracked elsewhere on AmendEU, and is not counted in any of the site’s amendment totals.

1. Amendment 1PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 14 a (new)
   Amendment

   14a. Stresses that due account must always be taken of the individual circumstances of each case, including coercion or exploitation, as well as of the seriousness of the criminal offence committed, of the level of risk posed by the offender to public safety, and of the applicable EU and national law;

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2. Amendment 2PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 14
   Current text

   14. Emphasises that children involved in criminal activities as a result of recruitment must be considered and treated primarily as victims, regardless of their alleged involvement in criminal offences, in line with international standards; recalls that engagement with violent groups is often driven by gradual coercion and group dynamics rather than ideological adherence;

   Amendment

   14. Rejects any approach that treats all minors who are involved in criminal activities solely as passive victims, as this risks weakening deterrence, undermining public trust and encouraging criminal networks to continue exploiting legal loopholes;

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3. Amendment 3PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 21 a (new)
   Amendment

   21a. Calls for stronger mechanisms requiring offenders and, where appropriate, civilly responsible adults to compensate victims for damage caused by offences committed by minors; stresses that victims of crimes committed by minors recruited by organised networks must remain at the centre of the legislative and judicial response through improved access to compensation, protection, information and legal remedies;

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4. Amendment 4ECRMotion for a resolution · Recital G
   Current text

   G. whereas criminal organisations systematically target children in highly vulnerable situations, particularly those facing socio-economic exclusion, school dropout and family breakdown, or children in migration, exploiting their economic insecurity, social marginalisation and lack of awareness of risks;

   Amendment

   G. whereas criminal organisations systematically target children in highly vulnerable situations, particularly those facing school dropout and family breakdown, or those who are illegal migrants;

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5. Amendment 5ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 8
   Current text

   8. Urges the adoption of a prevention-first approach and integrated protection systems that are child-centred, gender-responsive, trauma-informed and cross-sectoral, focusing on the early identification of at-risk children, community-based interventions and strengthening families and social services; highlights the positive role of sport, educational associations and community organisations in offering safe, healthy and inclusive environments;

   Amendment

   8. Urges the adoption of a prevention-first approach and integrated protection systems that are child-centred, gender-responsive, trauma-informed and cross-sectoral, focusing on the early identification of at-risk children, community-based interventions and strengthening families and social services; highlights the positive role of stable families, sport, educational associations and community organisations in offering safe, healthy and inclusive environments;

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6. Amendment 6ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 14
   Current text

   14. Emphasises that children involved in criminal activities as a result of recruitment must be considered and treated primarily as victims, regardless of their alleged involvement in criminal offences, in line with international standards; recalls that engagement with violent groups is often driven by gradual coercion and group dynamics rather than ideological adherence;

   Amendment

   14. Rejects any approach that treats serious child-perpetrated gang crime exclusively as victimhood; stresses that vulnerability may be relevant to sentencing and rehabilitation, but must never result in impunity for murder, attempted murder, bombings, firearms offences, rape, aggravated robbery, extortion, serious drug trafficking or other grave offences;

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7. Amendment 7ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 15 a (new)
   Amendment

   15a. Demands a victim-centred approach under which compensation is central to the sentence imposed and to any civil or criminal follow-up proceedings; stresses that victims should not be forced to bear the financial and psychological consequences of crimes committed by minors on behalf of organised networks;

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8. Amendment 8ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 15 b (new)
   Amendment

   15b. Calls for compensation orders issued as a result of serious violent or organised crime offences to be enforceable into adulthood and, where possible, across borders until victims have been fully compensated, without arbitrary limitation periods, insolvency abuses or identity changes allowing offenders or networks benefiting from crime to escape having to pay; calls for the EU institutions to support Member States in making child perpetrators, parents or guardians, and any adult relatives, household members, companies, associations or clan-based networks, jointly and severally liable where a court finds that they facilitated, encouraged, financed, laundered, concealed, benefited from or…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
   official amendment document ↗
9. Amendment 9ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 19
   Current text

   19. Stresses that as part of such cooperation, particular attention must be paid to children in situations of heightened vulnerability, including unaccompanied and migrant children, and access must be ensured to safe reporting channels, guardianship, legal assistance and rights-based cross-border child protection mechanisms;

   Amendment

   19. Stresses that such cooperation must pay particular attention to unaccompanied and migrant minors and must help them return to their country to reunite swiftly with their families;

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10. Amendment 10ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 20
    Current text

    20. Stresses the importance of addressing root causes, including poverty, inequality, exclusion, lack of education and exposure to violence and underinvestment in public services; calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase financial support for civil society organisations, community-based initiatives, sports associations and educational programmes in areas most exposed to organised crime recruitment, offering credible alternatives to criminal pathways;

    Amendment

    20. Stresses the importance of addressing root causes, including mass and illegal migration, lack of education and exposure to violence; calls on the Commission and Member States to consider financial support for civil society organisations, community-based initiatives, sports associations and educational programmes in areas most exposed to organised crime recruitment, offering credible alternatives to criminal pathways;

    official amendment document ↗