Brussels, 18/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 March, members of the European Parliament's civil liberties committee adopted the report by Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, France) on a proposal for recasting the 2005 directive on asylum procedures. The proposal in question, put forward in 2009, aims to introduce a single EU-wide procedure for granting and withdrawing international protection, including common safeguards for asylum seekers.
After a vote resulting in a very slim margin in favour (28 to 22), MEPs put forward amendments that the Commission should integrate into its new recasting proposals for this directive, due to take place before the Polish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers begins (on 1 July 2011). They should also allow the current impasse to be overcome and the establishment of a common asylum system to be set in place in 2012, mainly at the level of the Council.
With adoption of the report by Sylvie Guillaume, MEPs took the view that first instance decisions should be taken more speedily, “within six months”, and their quality should also be improved with more emphasis on “procedural safeguards for the especially vulnerable, such as victims of torture, rape or other serious acts of violence, unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, etc.”. According to the text adopted, asylum seekers should benefit from free first instance legal assistance, Guillaume was pleased to say. Applicants must also be allowed to remain in the member states for the sole purpose of the procedure until the national authority has made a final decision, “including in cases where an applicant lodges an appeal, and for as long as a competent court or tribunal so authorises”, MEPs say. Regarding the concept of “safe third countries”, they also backed the idea that a “common list of safe third countries” be adopted and amended by Parliament and Council under co-decision procedure.
With regard to solidarity between member states, countries that accept a “disproportionately large number of asylum applications” compared to the size of their population, may receive “financial support and administrative/technical support (…) immediately under the European Refugee Fund (ERF) and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) respectively in order to enable them to comply with this directive”, MEPs state.
Finally, MEPs underline that access to information on procedures to be followed when applying for international protection and access to organisations (such as NGOs) providing legal advice and counselling to asylum seekers should also be provided at border crossing points or in detention centres. One committee amendment reiterates that member states must fully respect the “non-refoulement principle” and also the right to asylum. The report is to be voted during EP plenary session in May. (S.P./transl.jl)