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EU countries are not obliged to accept asylum seekers, even in crises | NOW

The European Commission is not going to oblige EU member states to accept certain numbers of asylum seekers, according to the Migration and Asylum Pact presented on Wednesday. If the proposal is approved, countries will soon have to show a compulsory degree of solidarity in new crises, depending on the size and prosperity of the country, but even then the admission of asylum seekers is not a requirement.

Brussels also wants to cooperate more with countries where migrants come from. This mainly focuses on African countries.

Before the plans go into effect, EU Member States and the European Parliament must agree to the proposal. As a result, an earlier bill from 2016 failed.

According to European Commission President Urusula von der Leyen, the current migration plans are no longer sufficient for Europe and are outdated. The recent fires in refugee camps in Greece would have shown this, argues von der Leyen.

Clear within five days whether asylum seeker can stay

Also under the new policy, countries where refugees arrive would retain responsibility for their asylum procedure, a policy that in the past led to criticism from Italy, Greece and Spain.

However, Brussels wants improved reception centers at the borders where refugees can be quickly identified, screened and registered. It must be clear within five days whether an asylum seeker is eligible for a residence permit or whether the person must be returned.

‘Compulsory solidarity’ should convince countries like Poland and Hungary

Should countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy still get into trouble due to large numbers of refugees in a short period of time, an appeal will be made to the so-called ‘compulsory solidarity’ of other countries. They must then take over asylum seekers or help organize the return of asylum seekers who do not have a chance of a residence permit.

Swedish MEP Ylva Johansson hopes the latter option will convince countries like Poland and Hungary. In recent years, both countries have repeatedly refused to accept refugees and are not required to do so in the current proposal.

Oxfam Novib is disappointed with the migration plans presented. “Europe should have reformed its asylum system years earlier. It is positive that the EC is trying to bring EU countries together to make meaningful changes, but the Commission still seems to have succumbed to pressure from EU governments to reduce the number of people who seek protection and asylum in Europe, rather want to reduce it. “

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