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1. As soon as possible after international protection is granted in respect of an unaccompanied minor, competent authorities shall take the necessary measures, under national law, to appoint a guardian. Competent authorities may keep the same person designated as [representative under Article 23(2), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 or under Article 27(1), point (b), of Directive (EU) 2024/1346 to act as the guardian, without the need for formal appointment. Representatives as referred to in Article 23(2), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 or Article 27(1), point (b), of Directive (EU) 2024/1346 shall remain responsible for unaccompanied minors until a guardian is appointed. Organisations or natural persons whose interests conflict or could potentially conflict with those of the unaccompanied minor shall not be eligible for appointment as the guardian of that minor. Where an organisation is appointed as guardian, it shall as soon as possible designate a natural person responsible for carrying out the duties of guardian in respect of the unaccompanied minor in accordance with this Regulation.

2. For the purposes of this Regulation, with a view to safeguarding the best interests of the child and the unaccompanied minor’s general well-being, the guardian shall:

(a) ensure that the unaccompanied minor has access to all rights stemming from this Regulation;

(b) assist and, where applicable, represent the unaccompanied minor in the event that the unaccompanied minor’s refugee status or subsidiary protection status is withdrawn; and (c) where applicable, assist in the tracing of family as provided for in paragraph 7. Guardians shall:

(a) have the necessary expertise and receive initial and continuous appropriate training concerning the rights and needs of unaccompanied minors, including those relating to any applicable child safeguarding standards;

(b) be bound by the confidentiality rules provided for in national law in relation to any information they obtain in the course of their work;

(c) not have a verified record of child-related crimes and offences or of crimes and offences that lead to serious doubts about their ability to assume a role of responsibility with regard to children.

3. The competent authorities shall appoint each guardian to represent a proportionate and sufficiently limited number of unaccompanied minors in order to ensure that guardians are able to perform their tasks effectively and that unaccompanied minors have effective access to their rights and benefits.

4. In accordance with national law, Member States shall ensure that there are entities, including judicial authorities, or persons that are responsible for supervising and monitoring guardians on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that they perform their tasks in a satisfactory manner. Entities and persons as referred to in the first subparagraph shall review the performance of guardians, in particular where there are indications that guardians are not performing their tasks in a satisfactory manner. Such entities and persons shall examine, without delay, any complaints lodged by unaccompanied minors against their guardians. Where necessary, the competent authorities shall replace a person acting as a guardian, in particular where they consider that that person has not adequately performed his or her tasks. The competent authorities shall explain to unaccompanied minors, in an age-appropriate manner and in such a way as to ensure that the minors understand, how to lodge a complaint against their guardians in confidence and safety.

5. While taking into account the best interests of the child, the competent authorities shall place unaccompanied minors:

(a) with an adult relative;

(b) with a foster family;

(c) in centres specialised in accommodation for minors; or (d) in other accommodation suitable for minors. The views of unaccompanied minors shall be taken into account in accordance with their age and degree of maturity.

6. As far as possible, siblings shall be kept together, taking into account the best interests of the unaccompanied minors concerned and, in particular, their age and degree of maturity. Changes of residence of unaccompanied minors shall be kept to a minimum.

7. Where the tracing of family members of an unaccompanied minor started before that minor was granted international protection, it shall continue after the granting of international protection. Where the tracing of family members has not already started, it shall start as soon as possible after the granting of refugee status or subsidiary protection status, provided that it is in the minor’s best interests. Where there might be a threat to the life or integrity of the minor or the minor’s close relatives, particularly if they have remained in the country of origin, care shall be taken to ensure that the collection, processing and circulation of information concerning those persons is undertaken on a confidential basis so as to avoid jeopardising their safety.