Brussels, 05/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 6 April, at the end of the discussion at the College of Commissioners, the European Commission will present possible ways of reforming the so-called Dublin regulation. This regulation has already been revised three times, despite the fact that migration crises over the past three years (particularly in 2015) revealed fault lines in the mechanism and floods of immigrants concentrated in countries such as Greece.
Policies for reforming the Dublin rules are a particularly sensitive subject for member states. Some member states refuse to consider any talk of quotas for distributing asylum seekers, which reflects their hostility to the idea of relocating refugees from Italy and Greece. The current mechanism is based on the principle of the first country of entry in the European Union, which is deemed responsible for processing a demand for asylum.
According to several media sources, including the German newspaper die Welt, possibilities for reform will be discussed on Wednesday and several different scenarios are being proposed. Firstly, that there is no change to the principle or system in place. A corrective mechanism could be foreseen in periods of high pressure to create more fairness between member states. Another option already revealed last month by the Financial Times, includes a transfer of power towards the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). This would be able to open a decentralised office in each member state and help set up a centralised decision-making system. Another option would consist in directly setting up a distribution system between member states by way of an arithmetical formula based on the size and wealth of member states and their ability to take in asylum seekers and in this context resembles the formula based on quotas.
The Commission Spokesperson was questioned on the matter on Tuesday but refused to provide any details about a timetable for reform. Margaritis Schinas believes that it is up to the Commissioners to set a date for revising the Dublin system.
Speaking at the European Parliament, the Civil Liberties Committee advocated the setting up of a centralised European level system that helps to bring together, process and distribute demands for asylum (EUROPE 11513). On Tuesday, the ALDE group appealed for a genuine reform and new asylum system in Europe on the basis of a fair distribution system between member states for all asylum seekers. Guy Verhofstadt from Belgium said "This new system should be applied gradually as soon as efficient measures are in place and have produced results, in an effort to securitise the EU's external borders and manage migratory flows. Demands for asylum could then be made at an EU level and not in specific member states". Gianni Pittella said that it was crucial to avoid making "cosmetic" reforms. The Italian leader of the S & D group at the EP, who is fighting for a system based on, "solidarity and a binding relocation mechanism" explained that, "the Dublin regulation was ratified when thousands of innocent people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea or suffered along the Balkans route".
On Wednesday, the Commission will present its revised proposals on "smart borders" and the entry/exit system for travellers coming into and leaving Schengen (EUROPE 11519). It will also be putting forward a third communication on how future and existing information systems can help improve internal security. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)