Libyan refugees in Tunisia, 2011. Photo: EbS
The adoption of a common European refugee law is one of my main goals, if not the single most important, for me as a commissioner. Member states have been discussing it for many years and the difference in how displaced persons are received within the EU is unacceptably large. A few countries take a big responsibility, while others should be able to do more. The European Union is based on the values of human dignity, freedom, democracy and human rights. This all agree on, but it should not stop at being empty words in a treaty. My EU is willing to help people who are in need of protection and we should do it under dignified conditions. Therefore, Member States, the governments and leading politicians, have to take responsibility.
Today, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) voted on two key elements of the work towards the common asylum system, namely a revised Dublin Regulation and reception conditions for refugees. Finally! These are two key ingredients in the final product – the common asylum system. Read my statement here.
The standards for receiving asylum seekers vary considerably between EU countries today. There are countries that handle their commitments well. There are countries where the reception needs to improve. But there are also countries where the reception of refugees is far from the European values - where we see an unworthy treatment of people in need of protection. Therefore, common rules and standards for the reception conditions as extremely important. It should not matter which country you flee to, an applicant should know that his or her application is processed correctly and legally secure everywhere. If all member countries have a functional reception, we can help more people in need of asylum. With today’s decision, the levels of protection and reception will increase significantly and the rules become clearer.
Negotiations on the two Directives have been extremely tough between and within the Council and Parliament, ever since the Commission presented its proposals. Of course we have been participating in the negotiations all the time and been trying to find openings and compromises. The economic crisis and the general mood in Europe have not directly facilitated the negotiations. The MEP:s responsible for the asylum package have become important partners for us in the Commission and the reporteurs for today’s directives – Cecilia Wikström and Antonio Masip Hidalgo – have done a very important job in getting the Parliament on board. Hopefully, the Council will confirm the agreement by decision in October.
More specifically, the decisions contain improved protection for asylum-seekers, such as right to information, personal interview and special safeguards for minors, an early warning and preparation mechanism to help Member States where many seek protection, and greater legal clarity on Dublin-process between Member States. It also includes rules on standards of detention of refugees during the waiting period, improved protection for vulnerable persons, such as unaccompanied children, and minimum levels of support for asylum seekers.