Brussels, 23/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - During the debate on Thursday 22 September on the common European asylum system, which is set to enter into force in 2012, a majority of countries of the EU (Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Latvia) opposed the creation of an “emergency mechanism” which would lead, as a last resort, to the suspension of transfers of asylum seekers provided for in the event of massive migratory pressure on any one country. Furthermore, many countries supported the creation of a system for the evaluation of the asylum situation, to reinforce the early warning and preparation capacities of the Union.
The Commission proposed a solidarity mechanism to help a member state under strong migratory pressure. This emergency mechanism would mean that for this member state, certain transfers of asylum seekers provided for by the Dublin regulation would be suspended.
Belgium backs both the emergency mechanism and the idea of increasing the warning systems. Melchior Wathelet said that the countries which say they are not prepared to discuss a suspension mechanism are the same countries that reject the idea of a European asylum system, despite the European Parliament's strong defence of such a system.
Italy has called for the introduction of a common solidarity system, saying that the current regulation is good, but not effective enough in certain situations (as had recently been revealed) due to bottlenecks arising from extreme situations in some member states facing floods of asylum-seekers. Italy, like Belgium, agrees to both mechanisms.
Sweden is critical of both the suspension mechanism and the measures to increase the early warning systems. (LC/transl.fl)