Completing the reform of the Common European Asylum System: towards an efficient, fair and humane asylum policy

The European Commission presented on 13 July 2016 a set of proposals aiming to complete the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). The Commission launched proposals for the the creation of a common procedure for international protection, uniform standards for protection and rights granted to beneficiaries of international protection and the further harmonisation of reception conditions in the European Union.

+ Replacement of the Asylum Procedures Directive with a Regulation establishing a fully harmonised common EU procedure for international protection;

+ Replacement of the Qualification Directive with a Regulation which harmonises protection standards in the EU;

+ Reform of the Reception Conditions Directive, to harmonise the reception standards throughout the European Union.

These legislative proposals followed a first set of proposals published by the Commission 4 May to reform the Common European Asylum System, as outlined by the European Agenda on Migration from May 2015 the Commission's Communication on this topic from April 2016.

Parallel to this package of proposals, the Commission also released its proposal for an EU Resettlement Framework, to help reducing irregular migration flows by establishing safe and legal channels for those in need of protection to reach the European Union.

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/2436, 13.07.16: Reforming the Common European Asylum System: Frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-2436_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/2527, 13.07.16: Remarks by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the Readout of the College Meeting of 13 July http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-2527_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Towards a reform of the Common European Asylum System http://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1212725

ESO: Background information: Reforming the Common European Asylum System http://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1213247

EurActiv, 13.07.16: Refugees face asylum rejection if they leave country of arrival, under new EU rules http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/under-new-eu-rules-refugees-face-asylum-rejection-if-they-leave-country-of-arrival/

The Guardian, 13.07.16: EU officials finalise common asylum system to resettle refugees https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/13/eu-officials-finalise-common-asylum-system-resettle-refugees

The Wall Street Journal, 13.07.16: EU Proposes Harmonizing Asylum Procedures http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-proposes-harmonizing-asylum-procedures-1468429021

EUObserver, 13.07.16: EU plans tougher asylum rules https://euobserver.com/migration/134339

Deutsche Welle, 13.07.16: Unified asylum policy emerges in Brussels http://dw.com/p/1JOPX

The New York Times, 13.07.16: E.U. Offers New Immigration Plan, Hoping to Sway Reluctant Countries http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/world/europe/migrants-refugees-immigration-eu-greece.html

Euronews, 14.07.16: Austria interior minister rejects proposed EU-wide asylum seeker right to work http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3219952-austria-interior-minister-rejects-proposed-eu-wide-asylum-seeker-right-to-work-paper/

Politico, 13.07.16: Commission pushes for ‘fair and humane’ asylum system http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-pushes-for-fair-and-humane-asylum-system/

Politico, 14.07.16: Work permits for asylum seekers ‘unthinkable:’ Austrian minister http://www.politico.eu/article/work-permits-for-asylum-seekers-unthinkable-austrian-minister-refugees-eu/

Statewatch, 14.07.16: European Commission: Asylum, relocation, resettlement, legal channels - package, July 2016 http://www.statewatch.org/news/2016/jul/eu-med-crisis-com-package-13-7-16.htm

Amnesty International: European Institutions Office: Press Release, 13.07.16 http://www.amnesty.eu/en/news/press-releases/all/european-commission-proposals-on-resettlement-and-asylum-a-cynical-attempt-to-strengthen-the-wa-0990/

---