Asylum and Migration

The Common European Asylum System encompasses a number of legislative acts on asylum. The Commission has proposed that these be altered in order to achieve a higher degree of harmonisation. The goal is that standards regarding e.g. asylum processing and accommodation conditions become more uniform, regardless of which EU Member State processes the asylum application.

Current negotiations focus on ensuring a high degree of protection based on fair and effective procedures, on taking precautionary measures against deliberate misuse of asylum procedures and on determining the framework for a coherent, flexible and realistic system with actual and practical solidarity with Member States whose asylum systems are under serious pressure. It is the intention that all legal acts should be completed by the end of 2012.

The Schengen area is an area without internal borders. This makes high demands on the border control at external borders in order to prevent illegal immigration. There is a consensus in the EU that there should be a possibility to reinstate control at internal borders as an exception in extraordinary circumstances where the Schengen system’s overall function is threatened, e.g. in a particularly critical situation where a Member State is unable to control its part of the external border.

To implement such an emergency mechanism, the Commission in September 2011 proposed a series of changes to the provisions on the Schengen Borders Code and on the Schengen evaluation mechanism, popularly known as the “Schengen Governance proposals”.

Since 2005, the EU has entered into partnerships with countries outside of the EU, as a part of the so-called global approach to migration in order to ensure a better administration of migration. Through dialogue and partnerships covering all dimensions of the migration and asylum area, the EU works towards ensuring that this cooperation is of benefit - not just to the countries of origin, transit and recipient countries, but to the migrants as well. In late 2011, the Commission presented a communication on the future for the global approach to migration, which will be processed during the Danish EU Presidency.

A key element in this cooperation is to take preventive action against so-called mixed migration flows, meaning asylum seekers and illegal immigrants. The means are exchange of experience and other forms of practical cooperation as well as cooperation on capacity building with countries outside the EU. The purpose is to strengthen the protection capacity for the benefit of asylum seekers and refugees and mitigate negative consequences for affected local populations.

Integration is high on the agenda in many EU Member States, and there is an increased focus on cooperation on the integration area between countries. The intention is not to make common rules about integration, but by intensifying cooperation and exchange of experience, the integration effort in all countries will be strengthened for the benefit of both immigrants and the countries in which they have become citizens.

During its Presidency, Denmark will help strengthening already existing cooperation on experience exchanges and methodology development. It will be a high priority to make political goals in the EU on integration as specific as possible in order to facilitate practical implementation in the Member States.
Among the subjects anticipated to be taken up during the Danish Presidency, is the completion of a set of common integration modules, giving concrete examples of successful integration within a number of areas, and further promotion of democratic values, social cohesion and intercultural dialogue as part of the integration effort.

European Commission - Directorate-General for Home Affairs

European website on integration 

Council of the European Union - Justice and Home affairs

European Parliament - Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

FRONTEX - The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

IOM - International Organization for Migration