The EU Dublin Agreement: What It Is and How It Works
The EU Dublin Agreement, also known as the Dublin Regulation, is a law that determines which EU member state is responsible for processing asylum applications. It was introduced in 1997 and has since been revised several times, most recently in 2013.
Under the Dublin Agreement, the first EU country that an asylum seeker enters is usually responsible for processing their application. This is based on the principle of “first country of entry,” which aims to prevent asylum seekers from “shopping” around for the most favorable destination. However, there are some exceptions to this rule:
– Family reunification: If an asylum seeker has family members in another EU country who are already recognized as refugees or have a pending asylum application there, they may be allowed to join them. In this case, the country where the family members reside would be responsible for the application.
– Humanitarian reasons: In some cases, an asylum seeker may have special needs that can only be met in a particular EU country. For example, if they have a medical condition that requires specialist treatment. In this case, the country that can best meet their needs would be responsible for the application.
– Unaccompanied minors: If an asylum seeker is under the age of 18 and arrives in an EU country without any family members, the country where they are most likely to be given proper care and protection is responsible for the application.
The Dublin Agreement also allows for a “take charge” procedure, which means that if an asylum seeker has already applied for asylum in one EU country and then travels to another country, the first country can request that the second country take them back. The second country can either accept or reject the request, and if they reject it, the first country can appeal the decision.
The Dublin Agreement has been criticized by some for placing too much burden on the countries that are first in line to receive asylum seekers, such as Greece and Italy. These countries have argued that they are not equipped to deal with the large numbers of arrivals and that other EU countries should share the responsibility more evenly.
In response to these concerns, the Dublin Agreement was revised in 2013 to include a “responsibility sharing” mechanism. This means that if an EU country is facing a disproportionate burden of asylum applications, other countries can be asked to take in some of the asylum seekers. However, this mechanism has not been fully implemented and has faced resistance from some EU countries.
Overall, the EU Dublin Agreement is a complex and controversial law that aims to regulate the processing of asylum applications within the EU. While it has been criticized by some, it remains a key part of the EU`s approach to asylum and migration.