Common European Asylum System
The European Commission has adopted a communication on "Enhanced intra-EU solidarity in the field of asylum" which seeks to reinforce practical, technical and financial cooperation, move towards a better allocation of responsibilities and an improved governance of the asylum system, and to contribute to the finalisation of the "Common European Asylum System" (CEAS) by 2012 (a deadline set by the Stockholm Programme).
The CEAS aims to set up a common area of protection and solidarity based on a common asylum procedure and a uniform status for people who have been granted international protection.
The Commission has proposed to reform the legislative framework which will form the basis of the CEAS – it consists of three Directives and two Regulations. The European Parliament and the Council have recently adopted the first of these proposals, the Qualification Directive, on 24th November 2011.
The other instruments (the Asylum Procedures Directive, the Reception Conditions Directive, the Dublin II Regulation and the EURODAC Regulation) are still under intense negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council.
