Brussels, 08/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU home affairs ministers adopted conclusions on Thursday 8 March confirming their desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with the countries of southern Europe which face severe migratory pressure, but on condition that these southern European states abide by the European obligations of effective management of their borders and an asylum system that is above reproach.
In their conclusions, member states also set out the principles that will underpin a new Common European Asylum System to be launched at the end of 2012, and reiterated their rejection of the mechanism suspending the transfer of asylum seekers from one country to another, indicating that, as they said in December of last year, they would prefer an early warning mechanism to help countries overwhelmed by asylum seekers. The suspension mechanism to be included in the Dublin regulation was proposed by the Commission and backed by the countries of southern Europe before these countries, too, adopted the position of the majority of member states, including Germany and France, unconditionally rejecting an inclusion of suspension of transfers in EU legislation.
In their conclusions on Thursday 8 March, member states set out a catalogue of rights and duties. Among the duties, solidarity on asylum and immigration will be brought about through “responsibility and mutual trust”, they say. Member states are called on fully to meet their European and international commitments and “obligations”. Each member state should have fair and efficient asylum systems in place, which are “well-functioning and robust”, enabling it to be fully prepared to cope with migratory fluctuations and be able to receive solidarity measures.
These measures, to be rolled out in the event of crises, will consist mainly of teams from the Frontex agency or the Malta-based Asylum Support Office, whose resources, including human, will be strengthened by the other member states, or “financial solidarity”. It must be ensured that “funding can be released quickly and will allow for the EU to respond appropriately to unexpected pressure”, the Council said, and that there is further discussion of ways to make the funding more flexible and better suited to needs at the next multiannual framework.
This solidarity must also take the form of solidarity on returns, member states say. The Commission and Council, therefore, “are invited to step up their efforts enabling the conclusion of the EU readmission agreements with key countries of origin and transit”. (SP/transl.rt)