Children are largely invisible in EU law. There is no `children's policy' to speak of and little apparent interest in developing mechanisms to consider the interests of children in policy and decision-making. This position is set to change with the adoption of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights which contains a number of provisions relating to children. The mere inclusion of a specific provision on children in the Charter is highly symbolic and represents a significant new phase in the EU's relations with children. Furthermore, the new rights will require a re-examination of existing practices and will provide a new framework within which future decisions must be taken. The Charter's provisions will, therefore, provide support for those demanding a more integrated and thoughtful approach to children in the Union. Thus, despite the limited and often restrictive nature of the Charter's provisions on children, they represent a success story of the Charter
European Public Law