Following the reactions of certain Member States to the migration flows caused by the Arab Spring, which have put at stake the principle of Schengen and resulted in Member States taking uncoordinated measures to deal with this phenomenon, the Commission presented today a new communication on enhanced intra-EU solidarity in the field of asylum.
"The intentions of the Commission are praiseworthy but evidence has shown that solidarity cannot be reached without binding measures," said Cecilia Wikström (Folkpartiet, Sweden), ALDE rapporteur on the Dublin II Regulation determinig the country responsible for assessing aylum claims.
According to Mrs Wikström : "The proposed flexible toolbox responding to different solidarity needs must go hand in hand with constraining measures, especially inside the Dublin II Regulation because the principles governing this regulation do not aim purely to return asylum seekers back to the State of first entry. In certain situations, Dublin transfers could contribute to overstretching the capacity of a Member State, to the detriment of that Member State, but also of the rights of applicants".
Nadja Hirsch (FDP, Germany) (ALDE shadow on asylum directives) said: "Member States have to yield to the reality that their asylum systems are interdependent. Therefore a malfunctioning or overburdened system in anyone of them has an impact on all the others. The adoption of solidarity measures is indispensable given the fact that asylum flows are irregular and above all because they unevenly affect Member States. Currently indeed, only 10 out of 27 Member States deal with 90% of asylum applications ".
"The EU has a duty not only to its Member States but also to asylum applicants, given its international obligations under the Geneva Convention. Therefore we should not only focus on situations of particular migratory pressure and enhancing mutual trust in the Dublin system, but we also need to ensure a level of safeguards for applicants, and improve the current standards for the examination of the applications and the reception of asylum seekers," Hirsch concluded.
