No safe haven: The EU’s refugee policy

Criticism of Europe's joint refugee and asylum policy is growing louder as catastrophes occur regularly on the bloc's doorstep. DW takes a look at the EU's asylum policy.

Civil war, political persecution or dire living and working conditions are forcing people to leave their homes to look for protection elsewhere. Many flee within their home countries or turn to neighboring states. Some of them make it to the European Union. They're in such a desperate situation that they are willing to put their lives in danger for a better future.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Italy pushes 'Frontex Plus' to tackle migration crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-pushes-frontex-plus-to-tackle-migration-crisis/

ESO: Background information: The Human Cost of Fortress Europe: Human rights violations against migrants and refugees at Europe's borders http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-human-cost-of-fortress-europe-human-rights-violations-against-migrants-and-refugees-at-europes-borders-july-2014/

ESO: Background information: Five minutes with Eva Aldea: A ‘Fortress Europe’ accessible only to those within would be as much of a failure of the European project as dissolution of the Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/five-minutes-with-eva-aldea-a-fortress-europe-accessible-only-to-those-within-would-be-as-much-of-a-failure-of-the-european-project-as-dissolution-of-the-union/

ESO: Background information: Statement: World Refugee Day: time for solidarity, 20 June 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-world-refugee-day-time-for-solidarity/

European Parliament: Studies: Current challenges for International Refugee Law, with a focus on EU policies and EU cooperation with the UNHCR, 2013 https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/note/join/2013/433711/EXPO-DROI_NT(2013)433711_EN.pdf&sa=U&ei=j6zBU6TKK6aU0QWU9YDABA&ved=0CAcQFjAB&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNEWHwBukgR6zSwQqCOac-4r8QGbdg

European Commission: DG Migration and Home Affairs: Policies: Common European Asylum System https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/asylum_en

European Council on Refugees and Exiles: Refugees in the EU http://www.ecre.org/refugees/refugees/refugees-in-the-eu.html

UNHCR: Partners > The European Union > Working with the European Union http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4dd12ad46.html

EurActiv, 15.07.14: German minister calls for €1 billion to tackle 'worst refugee crisis in 50 years' http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/german-minister-calls-eu1-billion-tackle-worst-refugee-crisis-50-years

EUObserver, 23.07.14: EU grapples with smugglers as people fleeing conflict face torture http://euobserver.com/justice/125074

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