EESC opinion: Policy plan on asylum

EESC opinion: Policy plan on asylum

Key points:

  • The EESC agrees with the general objectives put forward by the Commission, but would draw attention to the gulf between those objectives and European legislation, as well as national laws and practices.
  • The EESC believes that the second phase of the construction of the CEAS should address the shortcomings of the first phase. A critical review of the first phase should therefore be carried out before the second phase begins.
  • The EESC considers that European asylum policies should be harmonised and the CEAS completed in a manner that ensures a high degree of quality, without lowering international levels of protection. Harmonisation will always retain a degree of discretion for national legislation but should never be used to reduce current levels of protection in the Member States. Harmonisation should instead serve to improve legislation in those Member States where protection is inadequate.
  • The new legislation should allow asylum seekers access to the labour market and training.
  • The EESC is calling for the work of NGOs specialising in asylum and refugees to be recognised and for these NGOs to be given full access to the procedures and places connected with their activities.