Member States will again discuss new proposals from the Swedish Presidency to move forward on the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’ in the EU Council’s Asylum Working Party on 27-28 March.
By submitting a new compromise on the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR) and new ways of determining the responsibility of Member States in the management of asylum cases, in particular in cases of absconding after a negative decision on an asylum procedure at the border (an aspect dealt with in the Asylum Procedures Regulation, APR), at this meeting the Presidency also wants to encourage Member States to approach the discussion taking fully into account the progress made on other legislative texts and the future general framework that is taking shape.
“This means taking due account of the strengthened responsibility that would result from the recast Eurodac Regulation, the new Screening Regulation and the recast of the Reception Conditions Directive”, it wrote in a document dated 21 March.
The Presidency refers to the progress made so far on the strengthening of responsibility resulting from a compulsory border procedure (as part of the Asylum Procedures Regulation - APR) and the emerging compromise on responsibility compensation as well as on the progress made in the negotiations on the solidarity mechanism (in the AMMR).
The Presidency notes in its preamble that the latest compromise texts of the AMMR and the border procedure under the APR “have been positively received by a majority of the Member States as steps towards viable solutions for an overall compromise in the Council”.
With regard to next week’s meeting and the new adjustments to the AMMR, it asks Member States to consider, among other things: the time limit for a ‘shift of responsibility’ between two Member States when a person has not been transferred within the time limit after absconding (between 18 months and 5 years, depending on the case); more efficient and simplified procedures for so-called ‘Dublin’ transfers; and, still regarding the concept of responsibility and determination of responsibility, a possible extension of the definition of family members to include siblings; and possible compensation for the duration of responsibility in the event of irregular entry into the country.
A discussion is also encouraged on persons already benefiting from international protection included in take back procedures between Member States.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties will vote on its mandate on the AMMR on 28 March. The Swedish Presidency hopes to have a mandate in June.
Link to the document: https://aeur.eu/f/5yg (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)