EU Asylum Policy | Gaining asylum in the union

European states have a long tradition of providing a safe haven to the persecuted. The protection of fundamental rights is part of Europe’s core identity. In 1999, the EU member states made the commitment to create a Common European Asylum System to tackle the Union’s rapidly increasing asylum challenges.

Later, the EU adopted a number of legislative measures with the aim of harmonizing the asylum systems of the different member states. The Dublin Regulation determines the member state responsible for examining an individual asylum application. The Reception Conditions Directive sets out the conditions for receiving asylum-seekers, including housing, education and health. The Asylum Procedures Directive lays out standards for asylum procedures, and is an important contribution to international law since this issue was not part of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The Qualification Directive establishes what subsidiary protection should be granted people facing risks of serious harm.

The EU has also set up a European Refugee Fund to provide financial support for the asylum systems of member states. Eurodac is an EU-wide information technology system that was created to compare fingerprints, and to determine if an asylum-seeker has lodged a claim in another member state.

The EU is highly influential with respect to asylum and resettlement issues both inside and outside the Union. Its laws and practices affect the development of refugee protection in many countries. EU institutions like the European Council, European Commission, European Parliament, and European Court of Justice exercise powers directly relevant to UNHCR‘s mandate.

Despite efforts to harmonize asylum laws in the EU, there are significant differences between EU members in their approaches to protection, refugee recognition, and reception conditions. In some EU countries, access to basic material support is severely limited.

As a result, UNHCR closely follows EU asylum law and policy, and gives its views to the EU’s institutions and member states on a wide range of asylum issues. The Refugee Agency also issues reports, proposals and observations on EU asylum law and policy.