Brussels [Belgium], May 21: The European Commission wants to simplify the process of returning asylum seekers to safe countries outside the European Union, even if they have only briefly travelled through them, in an effort to expedite asylum procedures.
Until now, it was necessary for asylum seekers to have a close connection to such a non-EU country, for example through family members or a longer stay. In the future, it could be sufficient for the person concerned to have traversed the country while fleeing before reaching the EU, the Brussels authority stated on Tuesday.
The European Parliament and the member states must still approve the proposal.
According to the commission, a sufficient connection to a safe country outside the EU would in future exist in two ways: Either the person concerned has travelled through it while fleeing, or the EU country has concluded a corresponding agreement with the country. In both cases, a return should be possible. Unaccompanied minors are exempt from this.
Before a member state concludes such agreements, it should inform the commission and the other EU countries. This is intended to prevent individual states from independently creating regulations that do not meet EU standards.
Source: Qatar Tribune
