Europe is in danger of creating a “lost generation” of young refugees who have fled war and persecution in their countries, the EU’s rights agency says. The Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) said it had identified seri ous challenges in integrating people aged between 16 and 24 across the EU.

It has urged member states to speed up asylum procedures, simplify family reunification and provide more housing. From 2015 to 2018, almost two million people received protection in the EU. Based on interviews with refugees and frontline staff in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Sweden, the FRA released a report on Tuesday highlighting “serious obstacles” for young people seeking asylum across the bloc.

It has called on countries to implement “smart investments” to help encourage successful integration. “This report aims to contribute to reflection on how to achieve this, thus making sure that a whole generation will not be lost,” it reads.(BBC)…[+]