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1. Member States shall ensure that children have the right to be accompanied by the holder of parental responsibility during court hearings in which they are involved.

2. A child shall have the right to be accompanied by another appropriate adult who is nominated by the child and accepted as such by the competent authority where the presence of the holder of parental responsibility accompanying the child during court hearings:

(a) would be contrary to the child's best interests;

(b) is not possible because, after reasonable efforts have been made, no holder of parental responsibility can be reached or his or her identity is unknown; or (c) would, on the basis of objective and factual circumstances, substantially jeopardise the criminal proceedings. Where the child has not nominated another appropriate adult, or where the adult that has been nominated by the child is not acceptable to the competent authority, the competent authority shall, taking into account the child's best interests, designate another person to accompany the child. That person may also be the representative of an authority or of another institution responsible for the protection or welfare of children.

3. Where the circumstances which led to an application of point (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph 2 cease to exist, the child shall have the right to be accompanied by the holder of parental responsibility during any remaining court hearings.

4. In addition to the right provided for under paragraph 1, Member States shall ensure that children have the right to be accompanied by the holder of parental responsibility, or by another appropriate adult as referred to in paragraph 2, during stages of the proceedings other than court hearings at which the child is present where the competent authority considers that:

(a) it is in the child's best interests to be accompanied by that person; and (b) the presence of that person will not prejudice the criminal proceedings.