The EU, its Member States and competent national authorities should seek to promote child participation in judicial proceedings, thereby fulfilling the fundamental principle of the best interests of the child, when taking decisions on minimum age requirements in the area of justice or when applying relevant EU and national legislation. Such decisions, and the implementation of relevant legislation, should respect children’s right to be informed, express their views on their own, and be heard in every judicial proceeding affecting their lives in a child-friendly manner with the appropriate procedural safeguards in place, whether it is a criminal, civil or administrative law proceeding.