Migration - Breakthrough on EU asylum reform - tougher measures planned
The asylum system in the EU is being fundamentally reformed. After years of discussions, representatives of the EU member states and the European Parliament reached a final agreement on the corresponding legal texts, as announced by the Spanish Council Presidency and the EU Commission this morning.
Numerous tightening of the existing rules are planned. The aim is to curb irregular migration.
The agreement still has to be confirmed by the plenary of the European Parliament and the EU member states. This is usually a formality.
Uniform border procedures
In future, there are to be uniform border procedures at the EU's external borders. In particular, there are plans to deal much more harshly with people from countries that are considered relatively safe. Until a decision is made on the asylum application, people are to be housed in detention-like conditions in reception camps.
According to the plans, the distribution of those seeking protection among the EU states will be newly regulated with a "solidarity mechanism": If countries do not want to take in refugees, they must provide support, for example in the form of monetary payments. Rejected asylum seekers are to be deported to safe third countries more easily in future.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the agreement as "urgently needed and long overdue". In view of the freedom of movement in Europe, reliable rules are needed for everyone in this area, the Green politician said in Berlin. At the same time, she conceded that Germany had not been able to get its way with all its concerns.
Reform has been underway for years
Intensive work on the reform has been underway since the refugee crisis in 2015/2016. Back then, countries such as Greece were overwhelmed by the immense number of people from countries such as Syria and hundreds of thousands were able to move on to other EU countries unregistered.
This should not have happened because, according to the so-called Dublin Regulation, asylum seekers should be registered where they first entered the European Union.
As a result, the EU Commission first proposed new rules back in 2016. However, the negotiations proved to be very tough until the end. While countries such as Hungary did not find the proposals tough enough, aid organizations and sections of the left and the Greens expressed concerns that human rights were not being sufficiently respected in asylum procedures.
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The EU asylum system is undergoing significant reform, with a focus on tightening existing rules to curb irregular migration. This reform, a result of years of discussions, includes plans for uniform border procedures and stricter handling of people from safe countries. The distribution of refugees among EU states will also be regulated with a "solidarity mechanism." Rejected asylum seekers are expected to be deported to safe third countries more easily. The European Parliament and EU member states still need to approve the agreement, which Annalena Baerbock described as "urgently needed and long overdue." The EU Commission proposed new rules in response to the refugee crisis in 2015/2016, but the negotiations were challenging due to opposition from countries like Hungary and concerns about human rights from aid organizations and the left.
Source: www.stern.de
