Discussions on the ‘asylum’ package will have to be relaunched, but also, possibly, some of its most complex elements will have to be reconsidered.
This is what the Commissioner-designate for Home Affairs, Sweden's Ylva Johansson, former Swedish Labour Minister, said on Friday 27 September in her answers to the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee, which will hear her on Tuesday 1 October.
Without saying that the new Commission would automatically rethink the famous Dublin Regulation, which has been blocked since 2016, the Swede believes that it will be necessary "in particular to identify all forms of solidarity to ensure that all Member States" can make meaningful contributions to this European asylum system and to this new Pact on Migration and Asylum announced by Mrs von der Leyen. "Finding sustainable solutions based on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility, elements that have inspired the Parliament’s position on the Dublin Recast Regulation, will remain key factors guiding my work", says the Commissioner-designate, who will work under the patronage of the Greek Margaritis Schinas.
"My objective in my work on the asylum reform is to overcome divergence and find common ground" on the basis of "our common values and humanitarian responsibilities". "Our aim should be to reach the broadest possible convergence on the difficult issues on the table", she adds.
Mrs Johansson also assures that, with the support of Margaritis Schinas, all policies will have very strong safeguards in terms of fundamental rights. "Ensuring the respect of the principle of non-refoulement in all circumstances, guaranteeing due process and access to effective legal remedies, are principles deeply embedded in our policy and legal framework". "We will look into how to best monitor and assess this respect (for fundamental rights, editor’s note) as part of the new Pact".
Europe has a responsibility to support refugee-hosting communities outside the EU, but it must also "remain a place of protection for those who need it", she said. She will explore new legal avenues and humanitarian corridors "to bring urgent help to those in need".
On maritime search and rescue operations, Mrs Johansson is committed to moving towards a "reliable and sustainable approach" that will be part of the Pact. The Commission will continue to be involved as it is in a temporary emergency response mechanism for these maritime relief operations. The role of NGOs should also be recognised, writes the Commissioner-designate, and sanctions will be applied to those not rescuing people in distress.
On the rest of internal affairs, the Swede undertakes to explore ways to end Schengen internal border controls and to implement the new staff of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency as soon as possible. Link to written answers: https://bit.ly/2mmuAZM (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)