Written by Anja Radjenovic (3rd edition, updated on 1.3.2019),

Asylum system in Europe
© kamasigns / Fotolia

The refugee and migrant crisis in Europe has exposed the need for reform of the Common European Asylum System, in general, and of the Dublin rules, in particular. The Commission’s proposal of 4 May 2016 to reform the Dublin system would not change the existing criteria for determining which Member State is responsible for examining an asylum application.

Instead of a fundamental overhaul of the Dublin regime, as suggested by Parliament, the Commission proposed to streamline and supplement the current rules with a corrective allocation mechanism. This mechanism would be triggered automatically were a Member State to be faced with disproportionate numbers of asylum-seekers. If a Member State decided not to accept the allocation of asylum-seekers from another one under pressure, a ‘solidarity contribution’ per applicant would have to be made instead.

An agreement on the balance between responsibility and solidarity regarding the
distribution of asylum-seekers will be a cornerstone for the new EU asylum policy.
Although Parliament’s LIBE committee adopted its positon in autumn 2017, the Council has been unable to reach a position on the proposal.

Interactive PDF

Proposal for a 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)
Committee responsible:

Rapporteur:

Shadow rapporteurs:

 

 

 

 

 

 Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

Cecilia Wikström (ALDE, Sweden)

Alessandra Mussolini (EPP, Italy)

Elly Schlein (S&D, Italy)

Daniel Dalton (ECR, UK)

Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL, Germany)

Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA, UK)

Laura Ferrara (EFDD, Italy)

 COM(2016)270 of 4.5.2016, 2016/0133(COD)

Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’)
Next steps expected: Trilogue negotiations

EU Legislation in progress: Committee vote

 

Visit the European Parliament page on ‘Improving the Common European Asylum System‘.