The Slovak Challenge to the Asylum-Seekers’ Relocation Decision: A Balancing Act

On 2 December 2015 Slovakia filed an action for annulment to the European Court of Justice (pending case C-643/15), challenging the legality of the Asylum-Seekers Relocation Decision ('the contested decision') adopted on 22 September 2015. Just one day later, on 3 December 2015, Hungary did the same (pending case C-647/15).

In this blogpost the author briefly discusses the arguments on which the Slovak government’s case rests and explores whether they are likely to succeed before the Court of Justice.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Why Slovakia has become the focal point for opposition against EU refugee quotas http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-slovakia-has-become-the-focal-point-for-opposition-against-eu-refugee-quotas/

ESO: Background information: Relocation of Asylum-Seekers in the EU: Law and Policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/relocation-of-asylum-seekers-in-the-eu-law-and-policy/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

Slovak Republic: Ministry of Justice: Announcement, 02.12.15: Summary of the Action http://www.justice.gov.sk/Stranky/aktualitadetail.aspx?announcementID=2038

EurActiv, 26.01.16: Fico: EU’s migration policy is ‘ritual suicide’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/fico-eus-migration-policy-ritual-suicide-321314

Politico, 26.01.16: Slovak PM: EU migrant policy is ‘ritual suicide’ http://www.politico.eu/article/slovak-pm-eu-migrant-policy-is-ritual-suicide/

Politico, 10.02.16: ‘We protect Slovakia’ http://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-fico-migrants-refugees-asylum-crisis-smer-election/

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