Towards a sustainable and fair Common European Asylum System

Summary:

The European Commission put forward on 4 May 2016 its first package of proposals relating to the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).

The European Parliament held a debate on this proposal with the Commission and the Council of the European Union on 11 May.

Further information:

The proposals aim to creat a fairer, more efficient and more sustainable system for allocating asylum applications among EU Member States. While the basic principle remains that asylum seekers should, unless they have family elsewhere, apply for asylum in the first country they enter, a fairness mechanism is introduced to ensure no Member State is left with disproportionate pressure on its asylum system.

The initiatives also include transforming the existing European Asylum Support Office into a EU Agency for Asylum and reinforcing the EU's Eurodac database for fingerprinting.

+ [COM(2016)271] Proposal for a Regulation on the European Union Agency for Asylum
+ [COM(2016)272] Proposal for a Regulation on the establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Regulation (recast)

The launch of these proposals followed up on the release of a Communication setting out a number of options to reform the Common European Asylum System.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Reforming the Common European Asylum System [Q&A] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-1621_en.htm

EurActiv, 04.05.16: Commission says EU asylum rules ‘dead as Jon Snow from Game of Thrones’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/commission-says-eu-dublin-rules-as-dead-as-jon-snow-from-game-of-thrones/

EUObserver, 03.05.16: EU may fine countries for rejecting refugees https://euobserver.com/migration/133318

Radio Poland, 04.05.16: European Commission proposes fines for non-compliance with refugee policy http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/251385,European-Commission-proposes-fines-for-noncompliance-with-refugee-policy

Portfolio.hu, 04.05.16: Hungary may need to pay a hefty fine if it refuses refugees http://www.portfolio.hu/en/economy/hungary_may_need_to_pay_a_hefty_fine_if_it_refuses_refugees_ft.31262.html

The Guardian, 04.05.16: EU executive to propose asylum reforms and approve Turkey visa deal http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/03/eu-refugee-crisis-closed-door-countries-pay-solidarity-contributions

BBC News, 04.05.16: Migrant crisis: EU plans penalties for refusing asylum seekers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36202490

[Blog] BBC News, 05.05.16: Migrant crisis: Has EU found solution for flawed asylum rule? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-36205211

EUObserver, 04.05.16: Computer to make EU asylum decisions https://euobserver.com/migration/133341

Deutsche Welle, 04.05.16: EU Commission: Accept asylum-seekers or pay up http://dw.com/p/1Ihjs

RFI, 04.05.16: EU proposes fines for countries refusing to take asylum seekers - but will it work? http://en.rfi.fr/europe/20160504-eu-proposes-fines-countries-refusing-take-asylum-seekers-will-it-work

The Wall Street Journal, 04.05.16: EU Proposes Fines for Member Countries That Refuse to Take in Migrants http://www.wsj.com/articles/european-commission-backs-visa-free-travel-for-turks-1462357287

Deutsche Welle, 04.05.16: EU to announce changes to asylum policy http://dw.com/p/1IhOH

EurActiv, 09.05.16: EU proposes Minority Report-style facial recognition for refugees http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-proposes-minority-report-style-facial-recognition-for-refugees/

Politico, 04.05.16: Price for rejecting refugees: €250,000 per head http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-wants-to-make-eu-countries-pay-for-not-accepting-refugees/

EurActiv, 09.05.16: Visegrad countries oppose Commission’s revamped asylum policy http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/visegrad-countries-oppose-commissions-revamped-asylum-policy/

EUObserver, 10.05.16: EU should take charge of asylum, says EP negotiator https://euobserver.com/migration/133376

European Parliament: Press Release, 11.05.16: Dublin rules: MEPs reiterate call for solidarity among EU member states http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160504IPR25742/

EPRS: At a Glance, May 2016: Towards a reform of the Common European Asylum System http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA%282016%29582001

ECFR: Commentary, 17.05.16: Reforming the Common European Asylum System http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_reforming_the_common_european_asylum_system_7027

European Commission: Remarks by First Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Avramopoulos at the Readout of the College Meeting of 4 May 2016 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-1667_en.htm

Legislative Train: Reform of the Common European Asylum System http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-towards-a-new-policy-on-migration/file-reform-of-the-common-european-asylum-system

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