Ek A K

Asylum Policies of the EU
Aspirations and reality of the treatment of refugees in the EU

Introduction:
Motivation: personal interest; what are the aspirations and fulfilments?
Attention-grabber& Relevance: Pictures of Refugees arriving on Mediterranean islands Lampedusa and Malta, EU reaction criticized; on-going issue; demonstrations

Overview:
1. Introduction
a. Right ofAsylum
b. The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
2. Asylum Law in Germany – A case study
3. European Harmonization
4. Ways of refugees to Europe
5. The agencyFrontex
6. Conclusion: Aspirations and Reality

Body
Right of Asylum
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 14
- Asylum: protection/refuge
- Historic background goes back toGreeks


Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (Geneva Convention):
- Definition of a Refugee:
o Persecuted for reason of race, religion, nationality, member of particularsocial group or political opinion
- Rights of refugees
- Responsibilities of nations
- Cooperation of UNHCR
o Politically independent, concerned with international protection ofrefugees

Asylum Law in Germany – A case study:
- “Political persecuted persons are granted the right of asylum” (Art. 16a Basic Law)
- Amendment of Basic Law in 1993
- Restrictions:1. Entry not possible over safe third country
2. Entry not possible from safe country of origin

European Harmonization:
- Undermining the Right of Asylum
1.Schengen Agreement: Removal of European Borders; core of existing common Asylum and Immigration Policy
2. London Resolutions: Definitions of safe third countries; measurements forunfounded applications
3. Dublin Regulation: Asylum Procedure in country of first entry; Member State where asylum seeker enters first is responsible for the asylum procedure

Three ways to...