PACE Calls to Set Hotspots to Process Asylum Applications Outside of Europe

The resolution, adopted by PACE, urges the Council of Europe states to "increase access to legal migration channels to Europe, including enhanced resettlement and humanitarian admissions, family reunification for the beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and student visas for refugees from countries neighboring Syria."

STRASBOURG(Sputnik) — The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution Wednesday urging its member states to establish hotspots for processing asylum applications outside Europe.

"The Assembly calls on member States… to consider the establishment of hotspots and the processing of asylum applications outside Europe with a view to identifying those in need of protection before they undertake a dangerous journey at the risk of their lives," the resolution reads.

The resolution "The Mediterranean Sea: a front door to irregular migration" was adopted by 126 against 8 votes.

The first so-called hotspot was opened on the island of Lesbos, Greece, last October, as the frontier state braced for a surge in new arrivals from crises-torn countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

The resolution urges the Council of Europe states to "increase access to legal migration channels to Europe, including enhanced resettlement and humanitarian admissions, family reunification for the beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and student visas for refugees from countries neighboring Syria."

The lawmakers take note of the necessity to "step up investigations and action to disrupt and prosecute smugglers’ networks."

In the discussion, they also reminded of the transit states that also see major difficulties in managing migration and asylum flows.

Over 4.5 million refugees are registered in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, in addition to over a million who have arrived in Europe over the past year.