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BackThis week, the European Commission presented two legislative instruments for changing the Common European Asylum System: the Directive on qualification and status of persons in need of international protection and the Asylum Procedures Directive. The Directives, which aim at eliminating the differences in the conditions for asylum applications within the EU, shall come into force in 2012.
“Today, the Commission has put in place the final building blocks for the Common European Asylum System”, said Jacques Barrot, Vice president of the European Commission, in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security. With its proposals, the Commission pursues an improved standard of protection, more consistent framework conditions in the individual EU countries as well as a more efficient and coherent system. Due to the fact that the acceptance quote is extremely varied from country to country, the asylum system in the EU until now has resembled a lottery. In Poland, 70.3 % of all 2007 asylum applications were judged positively, whilst only 1.5 % received the same treatment in Greece. The proposals of the Commission shall now prevent this unequal treatment.
The Qualification Directive, proposed by the Commission, for example demands to eliminate differences in the level of rights granted to refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection which can no longer be considered as justified longer justifiable differences. The amendments concern the duration of residence permits, access to social welfare, health care and the labour market. Furthermore, the recognition of their qualifications, their access to vocational training as well as to integration facilities shall also be facilitated.
By introducing a uniform examination process for each application the new Asylum Procedures Directive aims at facilitating and rationalising the asylum procedure as well as at reducing the administrative burden for the Member States. An important measure concerns the introduction of a general time limit of six months for completing procedures at first instance. The proposal provides for a transitory period of three years to allow Member States to adapt to this time limit. The procedural guarantees, in particular for vulnerable persons such as victims of torture or unaccompanied minors, will also be enhanced. The members of staff dealing with asylum applicants will need to have the appropriate expertise.
The proposals are now examined by the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission hopes for a decision within the next two years. The proposals, however, were already criticised by the refugee organisation Pro Asyl, which regards the proposals as tiny steps and not as a brilliant achievement of the departing Commissioner Barrot.
Further information:
Press release of the European Commission
The Qualification Directive, proposed by the Commission, for example demands to eliminate differences in the level of rights granted to refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection which can no longer be considered as justified longer justifiable differences. The amendments concern the duration of residence permits, access to social welfare, health care and the labour market. Furthermore, the recognition of their qualifications, their access to vocational training as well as to integration facilities shall also be facilitated.
By introducing a uniform examination process for each application the new Asylum Procedures Directive aims at facilitating and rationalising the asylum procedure as well as at reducing the administrative burden for the Member States. An important measure concerns the introduction of a general time limit of six months for completing procedures at first instance. The proposal provides for a transitory period of three years to allow Member States to adapt to this time limit. The procedural guarantees, in particular for vulnerable persons such as victims of torture or unaccompanied minors, will also be enhanced. The members of staff dealing with asylum applicants will need to have the appropriate expertise.
The proposals are now examined by the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission hopes for a decision within the next two years. The proposals, however, were already criticised by the refugee organisation Pro Asyl, which regards the proposals as tiny steps and not as a brilliant achievement of the departing Commissioner Barrot.
Further information:
Press release of the European Commission