STRASBOURG (Sputnik) — The first resolution, prepared by Italian lawmaker Michele Nicoletti and titled "After Dublin — the urgent need for a real European asylum system," calls for "an immediate evaluation of the Dublin system including the member states of the EU, as well as the non-EU member states of the Council of Europe that are in transit routes, which takes a holistic view of the overall effects of the Dublin system and the wider context within which it operates."
The resolution suggests that the Dublin system — a document stipulating that the first EU member country entered by a refugee must process their asylum application — is not capable of functioning as a burden-sharing mechanism to ensure the even distribution of refugees.
"The Dublin Convention is not working, it ceased to exist," Danish lawmaker Nikolaj Villumsen said during the debate on the issue. "If we do not realize this, if we do not find the way to secure a permanent distribution system of refugees coming to Europe, the current chaos will continue."
The Council of Europe recommends introducing a status of "European refugee" for beneficiaries of international protection, which allows transfer or residence of those claiming asylum between the bloc's member states.
Another resolution adopted Tuesday is entitled "Countries of transit: meeting new migration and asylum challenges." The resolution recommends the European Union ensure coherency in its overall migration policy, taking a so-called triangular approach, involving the countries of origin and transit. It also urges improving the protection of migrants' rights in transit countries, greater investment in transit countries, and stipulates the inclusion of adequate and effective resettlement policies.
Moreover, the resolution urges that asylum seekers not be returned to countries such as Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Macedonia, Serbia or Hungary that already bear a disproportionate refugee population, or to those states where protection for migrants is not guaranteed.
