migration
Breakthrough in EU asylum reform – tightening measures planned
The EU wants to fundamentally reform the asylum system. photo
© Arne Immanuel Bänsch/dpa
Limiting irregular migration has been the major controversial issue in Brussels for years. There was a heated struggle to reform the asylum system – now there is a compromise. What was agreed upon?
Numerous tightening of the previous rules are planned. The aim is to curb irregular migration.
The agreement still has to be confirmed by the plenary session of the European Parliament and the EU states. This is usually a formality.
Uniform border procedures
In the future there should be uniform border procedures at the EU’s external borders. In particular, there are plans to deal much harsher with people from countries that are considered relatively safe. Until a decision on the asylum application is made, people should be able to be accommodated in detention camps under prison-like conditions.
According to the plans, the distribution of those seeking protection among the EU states will be reorganized using a “solidarity mechanism”: If the countries do not want to accept refugees, they must provide support, for example in the form of monetary payments. Rejected asylum seekers should be deported to safe third countries more easily in the future.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the agreement as “urgently necessary and long overdue”. Given the freedom of movement in Europe, everyone needs reliable rules in this area, said the Green politician in Berlin. At the same time, she admitted that Germany could not get through with all concerns.
Reform has been in the works for years
Intensive work has been underway on the reform since the refugee crisis of 2015/2016. At that time, countries like Greece were overwhelmed by the immense number of people from countries like Syria and hundreds of thousands were able to move on to other EU countries without being registered.
This actually shouldn’t have happened because, according to the so-called Dublin Regulation, asylum seekers should be registered where they first entered the European Union.
The EU Commission then proposed new rules for the first time in 2016. However, the negotiations turned out to be very tough until the end. While the proposals were not strong enough for countries like Hungary, aid organizations and parts of the left and green parties expressed concerns that human rights were not being sufficiently respected in the asylum procedures.