Recent months have shown that the EU rules, which regulate the responsibilities of the Member States for asylum applications (the so-called Dublin System), are not suitable to guarantee sustainable EU-wide burden sharing and the processing of asylum applications in a timely manner. Hence, on 6th April 2016, the Commission has initiated a process to reform the Dublin System. The Commission presented relevant proposals on 4th May 2016, which were debated in the European Parliament on 11th May 2016.

Reform of the Common European Asylum System

According to the proposal of the Commission, the principle that asylum seekers have to apply for asylum in the Member State of first entry (provided they do not have relatives in another EU country) shall be retained in future; however, there shall be burden sharing among the Member States. In future, it shall be ascertained by means of an automatic corrective allocation mechanism (“Fairness Mechanism”) when the number of asylum seekers in individual countries measured by their population size and relative wealth (GDP) reaches disproportionate levels. If the number of asylum seekers reaches one and a half times the reference number calculated on this basis, all newly arrived asylum seekers, following an examination of the asylum application with regard to admissibility, shall be transferred to other EU Member States until the number of asylum seekers falls under the relevant reference number again. However, a Member State also has the option of temporarily not taking part in the allocation mechanism. In this case, it pays a solidarity contribution of € 250,000 per person (called “fine” or “paying a ransom” by the media) to the Member State, which accepts an asylum seeker, which the opting out state had been allocated in accordance with the Fairness Mechanism.

EPP and ALDE reacted overall positively to this proposal; however, the S&D voiced doubts whether the distribution scheme could work in practice. Critical comments also came from GUE, EFDD and ENF, as the Dublin System would essentially be retained. The majority rejected the proposal that Member States could rid themselves of their obligation to accept asylum seekers by paying a financial consideration to the last host country. However, some factions mentioned in their criticism the right of Member States to self-determination.

Further information

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast)

Visa exemption for Turkey

On 4th May 2016, the Commission proposed to the European Parliament and the Council to implement the visa exemption for Turkish citizens by the end of June 2016, provided that Turkey fulfils the still missing benchmarks, which were laid down in the roadmap for the visa exemption. The European Parliament discussed this proposal on 11th May 2016. To date, Turkey has not yet fulfilled all benchmarks with regard to fighting corruption, data protection, judicial cooperation with EU Member States, increased cooperation with EUROPOL and the revision of anti-terrorism legislation. The European Parliament has made it clear across all factions that the fulfilment of all benchmarks would be the prerequisite for dealing with the content of the Commission's proposal. There could be no exception or “rebate” for Turkey.

Background:

The EU had already opened the dialogue with Turkey concerning the visa liberalisation in December 2013. A roadmap containing 72 benchmarks was set up, which Turkey has to fulfil in order to achieve visa exemption. At the EU-Turkey Summit on 29th November 2015, during which the “EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan” in connection with the refugee crisis was activated, the EU welcomed the promise of Turkey, to accelerate the implementation of the roadmap for visa liberalisation. Turkey promised further acceleration at the EU-Turkey Summit on 18th March 2016. In the joint declaration after the Summit on 18th March 2016, the 28 heads of state and government pledged to abolish the visa requirement for Turkish citizens by June 2016 at the latest – provided that all 72 benchmarks of the roadmap had been fulfilled.

Whilst EPP and S&D generally support the EU-Turkey Agreement, all other factions voiced criticism and accused Turkey of blackmailing the EU. For ALDE, GUE/NGL and the Greens – the basically positive – visa liberalisation against the background of the deteriorating human rights situation would send a wrong signal concerning the support of Erdogan.