The EU Treaties set the objective of a uniform asylum status valid throughout the Union. Yet, the Common European Asylum System’ (CEAS) uneven implementation in Member States provides an incentive for asylum-seekers to apply for asylum in those Member States where it is most likely to be granted. Consequently, the majority of claims are granted in only a few of the 28 Member States.

On 6 April 2016, the Commission presented a communication entitled 'Towards a reform of the Common European Asylum System and enhancing legal avenues to Europe'.

On 4 May 2016, the Commission adopted the first package of proposals for CEAS reform with the following initiatives:

• Proposal for a regulation to reform the Dublin system;
• Proposal for a regulation to amend Eurodac;
• Proposal for a regulation to establish an EU Asylum Agency which is to replace the European Asylum Support Office (EASO).

On 13 July 2016, the Commission put forward the second package of proposals for CEAS reform. The package includes:

• A proposal for a new regulation to replace the Asylum Procedures Directive;
• A proposal for a new regulation to replace the Qualification Directive;
• Proposed targeted modifications of the Reception Conditions Directive.

Parliament’s Resolution on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration of 12 April 2016 stressed that many alerts, including the infringement decisions adopted by the Commission, show that the CEAS has not been fully implemented in many Member States. It underlined that implementation was essential for harmonising national laws and promoting solidarity among Member States, and that Member States can seek supporting assistance from EASO to meet the standards required by the CEAS. Parliament also noted that the harmonisation of reception conditions and asylum procedures can help avoid stress on countries offering better conditions and are key to responsibility sharing.

For more detailed information on the further state of play concerning the individual legislative proposals, see the relevant files:

• REVISION OF THE DUBLIN REGULATION;
• RECAST EURODAC REGULATION;
• STRENGTHENING EASO (see the "Strengthening EASO" file - moved in the "Arrived" section after the adoption of the Regulation on the European Union Agency for Asylum in December 2021);
• REFORM OF THE ASYLUM PROCEDURES DIRECTIVE;
• REFORM OF THE QUALIFICATION DIRECTIVE;
• REFORM OF THE RECEPTION CONDITIONS DIRECTIVE;
• EU RESETTLEMENT FRAMEWORK.

References:

• European Commission, Towards a reform of the Common European Asylum System and enhancing legal avenues to Europe, COM(2016) 197 final, 6 April 2016
• European Commission, Towards a sustainable and fair Common European Asylum System, Press release, 4 May 2016
• European Commission, Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection and for the content of the protection granted and amending Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents, COM (2016) 466 final, 13 July 2016
• European Parliament, Resolution of 12 April 2016 on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration, 2015/2095(INI)
• European Parliament, EPRS, Reform of the Qualification Directive, Briefing, May 2017
• European Parliament, EPRS, Common procedure for asylum, Briefing, March 2017
• European Parliament, EPRS, Reform of Dublin system, Briefing, March 2017
• European Parliament, EPRS, Recast Eurodac Regulation, Briefing, March 2017
• European Parliament, EPRS, European Union Agency for Asylum, Briefing, March 2017
• European Parliament, EPRS, Towards a reform of the Common European Asylum System, Plenary at a Glance, May 2016

Author: Nikolai Atanassov, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu 

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