Brussels, 29/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 28 April, MEPs from the European Parliament's civil liberties committee (LIBE) had a preliminary discussion on the common list of safe countries of origin that was proposed by the European Commission in September. According to the initial proposal, the list was to avoid citizens from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) and Turkey abusing the right of asylum in the EU once arriving there, with or without a visa.
Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, France), the rapporteur on the issue, said that, like the Council, she would work in two phases - on the draft regulation to know how such a list could work with the other national lists, and then secondly, on the list of countries itself. On the latter issue, Guillaume asked the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to provide an analysis of the situation in the countries on the common list. Turkey's inclusion on this list is proving sensitive. An assessment was also requested from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights with regard to the consequences of this accelerated procedure regime for the citizens of these countries.
The LIBE committee's work will thus take a relatively long time. While waiting, Guillaume wants to work on a partial mandate on aspects of the regulation, but not on the countries concerned. The same approach is also followed at the Council. “This method of working in two phases will enable the co-legislators to start the interinstitutional negotiations on other parts of the text and, once the contributions from EASO have been received, to complete their partial position”, she said.
On the regulation itself, Guillaume said she wanted to be assured of several points: to clarify the relationship between the European list and the national lists so as to ensure the best harmonising impact. Guillaume also wants the national lists abolished within three years, and in the meantime she wants provisions for clearly defined processes should a country be suspended or withdrawn from the common list. She also wants a more frequent assessment of the list to be ensured, and the methodology for assessing the countries to be strengthened.
If the list is amended, it is important to give reasons and justification for any change, taking account of information supplied by the various relevant actors. The creation of a consultative information committee on the safe countries of origin is also planned, Guillaume stated.
This path has generally been followed by the other groups, even if some - like the ECR Group - are concerned at the fact that some proposals from the rapporteur could lead to administrative burdens. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)