Brussels, 15/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 15 July, the Belgian Presidency said that European ministers in charge of asylum had decided to continue working on a common European asylum system, despite the strong misgivings of member states. After the informal meeting with his colleagues in Brussels, Melchior Wathelet, the Belgian secretary of state for migration and asylum policy, declared: “We decided to move forward on four of the six tests still pending: Eurodac, Dublin, qualification and long term residents, on which we consider that during the Belgian Presidency, an agreement can be found…but enormous misgivings still exist”. Speaking at the Palais d'Egemont, he said: “We did, nonetheless, point out that it is fundamental that we continue to work on the two other texts, which are an integral part of this common asylum system, that we are due to set up in 2012”. Almost all of the debate focused on revision of the Dublin regulation, which identifies the state taking charge of the asylum seeker. The minister emphasised that “there is still a major difficulty with regard to this regulation, notably, the sensitive question of possible suspension of the Dublin system”. Almost 20 countries spoke against this possibility. Solidarity mechanisms between states, such as suspension of the transfer of asylum seekers to the country in which they entered the EU, as a way of alleviating the excessive pressure from asylum seekers on the country in question, are still presenting EU countries with difficulties because they prefer that these front line countries strengthen their borders. Wathelet pointed out that “the question of solidarity is not just limited to Dublin. There are multiple aspects to it and the answers vary according to the country. The mechanisms panel linked to solidarity must be expanded. As well as Dublin, the support office, pilot projects, financial support, exchange of good practices on reception, follow up and integration must be used”. Cecilia Malmström said that solidarity must be accompanied by responsibility from member states, which had to respect existing norms. She also stated that she envisaged the creation of a mechanism to be used in special controlled circumstances, in an effort to relieve countries under particular pressure. (BC./transl.fl)