Asylum
- Refugees seek asylum in the European Union from many countries, including Afghanistan (Photo: European Commission)
The EU has a common policy on asylum. Most EU asylum policy is now decided by a qualified majority. The Council is deciding common definitions and rules for the return of asylum seekers, starting with those from Afghanistan.
On 11 December 2000 the Council adopted a Regulation concerning the establishment of "Eurodac" which is an extensive database for the comparison of fingerprints of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.
A new regulation adopted in February 2003 had replaced the so-called Dublin Convention.
The EU country that first receives an application for asylum, acts on behalf of all Member States. This rule has been criticised for being in contravention of the relevant United Nations Conventions because it could leave numbers of asylum seekers without protection.
At present, asylum policy falls under QMV voting in the Council with the EP being consulted. The Lisbon Treaty provides for the parliament’s co-decision (art. 78 TFEU) and introduces the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility regarding asylum and immigration (art. 67.2 TFU).
Links
Asylum policy http://www.europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/s17000.htm#ASILE
