European Commission adopts modified proposal on asylum procedures, June 2002

The European Commission adopted on 20 June 2002 a modified proposal for a Council Directive on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status. The aim is to introduce a minimum level playing field in asylum procedures across the EU, which should prevent the current practice of 'asylum-shopping', where asylums seekers target countries which offer the most favourable conditions.

The proposals on asylum procedures are part of a set of measures to build the Common European Asylum System - an idea conceived at the Tampere European Council in 1999. The European Commission presented a its first proposals on a common asylum procedure and a uniform status for those granted asylum in the EU in September 2000. However, ministers at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 7-8 December 2001 called for amendments to the proposal. At the Laeken European Council in December 2001 EU leaders called on the European Commission to come up with a modified proposal.

The latest proposals introduce both guarantees for a fair procedure and mechanisms and tools for an efficient procedure. All the proposals consist of minimum standards rather than uniform procedures, thereby allowing Member States to retain their national systems providing they accept certain standards and procedures. The modified proposal includes four new features that should allow countries to deal with applications swiftly, allows the Member States to refrain from inviting an applicant for interview in certain circumstances and simplifies the principles of the appeal procedure.

The latest proposal comes ahead of the European Council meeting in Seville on 21-22 June 2002 when the fight against illegal immigration is set to top the agenda. With the increasing success of far-right groups, who are using public anxiety over illegal immigration to their favour, EU leaders have recognised the need to step up their efforts on illegal immigration and tackle the problem collectively.

Links:

European Commission:

• European Commission: Memo: MEMO/02/146
• DG Justice and Home Affairs: Immigration and Asylum

European Sources Online: Financial Times:

• 19.06.02: Asylum proposals seek common European standards

Spanish Presidency of the EU:

• 18.06.02: Press Release: Aznar notes 'basic agreement' among Fifteen on tackling immigration policy
• 19.06.02: Letter from the President of the European Council, José María Aznar, to the Member States (Seville European Council)

European Sources Online:

• In Focus: Asylum, refugees and immigration: A challenge for Europe
• In Focus: Ministers agree tight border controls ahead of Seville Summit

Helen Bower
Compiled: Thursday, 20 June 2002

The European Commission adopted on 20 June 2002 a modified proposal for a Council Directive on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status.