ECRE Policy Papers

This paper highlights ECRE's comments on EU plans for the establishment of a European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to ensure objectives of improving asylum practices in the EU are reached.

ECRE would welcome the establishment of EASO, if it were well-resourced and founded strongly on principles of democratic accountability and transparency. To this end, it is important that UNHCR and other independent experts, including NGOs working in the refugee field, are regularly consulted and afforded extensive input into its work. ECRE also recommends a support office that is subject to democratic oversight by the European Parliament.

ECRE Comments on the plans to establish European Asylum Support Office (146.37 KB)

On the occasion of the 2008 Ministerial Conference on Integration organised by the French Presidency on 3/4 November in Vichy, ECRE calls for including refugees and their families in mainstream EU integration policies.

EU asylum policy-making has been focusing on deterring asylum seekers, while paying little attention to the barriers these policies create for the integration of those who eventually become new European citizens. Once recognised as refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary forms of protection, they are excluded from mainstream EU integration policies for other third country nationals such as the European Integration Fund, the Long Term Residence Directive and the forthcoming European Integration Forum.

ECRE Recommendations to the 2008 Ministerial Conference on Integration (91.82 KB)

This study examines the transposition of certain provisions of the Qualification Directive (Council Directive 2004/83/EC, deadline for transposition expired on October 10, 2006), the differences in practice brought about by transposition, and some of the substantive social rights EU Member States extend to recipients of international protection under the directive.

This project is motivated by concerns about the directive's compatibility with international human rights standards. ECRE and UNHCR have taken the position that some of the directive's provisions do not reflect the 1951 Refugee Convention, and have urged states to adopt higher standards as provided for in article 3.

The study reveals both positive developments that the Directive has brought about, as well as a number of disturbing trends concerning intrinsic flaws in the Directive and a failure by member states to properly implement it.

Impact of the EU Qualification Directive on International Protection - Full text (1.06 MB)

Impact of the EU Qualification Directive on International Protection - Summary (411.02 KB)

This report on the situation for refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation, and Ukraine in 2007 has been written by national refugee-assisting NGOs in each country. The reports have been edited but no substantial changes have been made to their content as reported by the agencies involved. The report has been produced as part of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles' Programme "The Protection of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Forced Migrants", which is generously funded by the European Union Aeneas programme.

Eastern Europe Country Reports 2007 (1.06 MB)

ECRE publishes proposals for how the EU should revise the Directive on the Reception of asylum seekers in May 2008, based on comparative evidence of Member States' practices. The European Commission is due to propose amendments to the Reception Directive this year and ECRE believes concrete changes to the Reception Directive are needed to improve the standards of reception of asylum seekers across the EU.

ECRE Reception Directive Proposals for Revision (268.82 KB)

This report highlights the inherent limitations and injustices of the Dublin system, which transfers asylum seekers between EU Member States, and outlines alternative proposals for a fairer and more efficient system.

ECRE strongly believes that the Dublin Regulation does not promote harmonisation of EU asylum systems, seriously impedes integration, and sows dissension among Member States. Instead of pretending it can be made to work, the Stockholm Programme should repeal the Dublin Regulation and devise an efficient responsibility-sharing regime that improves solidarity among Member States, and promotes the integration of people who seek, and deserve, international protection.

Sharing Responsibility: Dublin Reconsidered - Full Report (573.14 KB)

Sharing Responsibility: Dublin Reconsidered - Summary (242.56 KB)

A survey conducted by ECRE in February 2008 reveals continuing disparities in policies and practices of European governments towards Iraqi asylum seekers and refugees. The results of this survey show once again that the EU Member States need to urgently take steps to end the protection lottery faced by Iraqis in Europe and ensure humane policies are in place by adopting a common approach towards Iraqi asylum seekers and refugees on EU territory.

ECRE 2008 Iraq Survey (49.36 KB)

Comments from ECRE on the Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Directive the Long Term Residents Directive (2003/109/EC) to extend its scope to beneficiaries of international protection.

ECRE Comments on LTR Proposal (152.58 KB)

The vast range of migration controls undertaken by European governments at the EU's external borders and beyond are increasingly preventing persons fleeing persecution from reaching safety in Europe. These controls include visas, sanctions on transport companies, posting immigration officials abroad, intercepting and diverting boats at sea, preventing the departure of boats from neighbouring countries as well as the maltreatment and / or immediate return of people who reach the EU's borders.

In this paper ECRE examines the numerous border control measures of European countries and the European Border Management Agency (FRONTEX) to prevent irregular migration and makes proposals for how they should be adapted in order to ensure European countries do not push refugees back to life-endangering situations and that Europe remains a region where people's right to seek asylum is respected.

Access to Protection in Europe - Summary (224.93 KB)

Access to Protection in Europe - Full Report (776.77 KB)

ECRE, in cooperation with the partner NGOs, published two policy papers and a comprehensive regional report focusing on issues of sustainable return within the region and from the EU, the development of regional asylum systems and border monitoring. The papers were written by the regional partners with support from the expert consultants, based on the research conducted during the project. They give clear recommendations to the relevant stakeholders, as well as an overview of the current situation.

Asylum Policy and Practice in SEE Countries (1.51 MB)

Policy Briefieng on Border Monitoring (1.32 MB)

Current Challenges for Returns in Western Balkans (1.83 MB)