17/12/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament adopted the evaluation reports on the ‘Dublin III’ Regulation laying down the framework for responsibilities in the processing of asylum applications and the Return Directive adopted in 2008 by 448 votes to 98 (with 149 abstentions) and 512 votes to 134 (with 49 abstentions) (see EUROPE 12613/8, EUROPE 12614/19). Led by Fabienne Keller (Renew Europe, France), the report on the ‘Dublin III’ outlines the disproportion between member countries in the number of applications and denounces the current poor application of the ‘Dublin’ criteria for defining which country will process an application. The fairly large number of abstentions already sets up the future balance of power around the future Pact. The report by Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA, The Netherlands) focuses on voluntary returns, which should be encouraged. Without sharing all the messages, the MEPs are above all sending a signal that they support an effective returns policy. Link to the reports: http://bit.ly/3nunX27 (SP)