§ Lord Corbett of Castle Valeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made with other European Union governments on agreeing common standards for the handling of asylum applications. [HL4064]
§ Lord RookerTo date, the European Union (EU) governments have been working to reach agreement on instruments designed to meet the Treaty of Amsterdam commitment for member states to adopt measures designed to establish minimum standards for asylum procedures and policies across the EU. The deadline for this is May 2004. At the Tampere European Council in October 1999, member states agreed to look beyond the minimum standards established by 2004 towards the creation of a common European asylum system. After a slow start there is now increasing momentum on the first stage of the process to establish minimum standards. The United Kingdom has participated actively in this process and has opted in to all the measures to date.
The following measures have been adopted to date: Council regulation establishing the EURODAC electronic fingerprinting database (adopted 11 December 2001); and Council directive on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in event of mass influx (adopted 20 July 2001).
At the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 25 and 26 April a general agreement was reached on the text of the directive establishing minimum standards on reception conditions for asylum seekers. Final adoption is anticipated in the coming months.
Three other measures remain under discussion: the proposed regulation to replace the Dublin convention (Dublin II); the proposal for a Council directive on minimum standards on procedures for member states for granting and withdrawing refugee status; and the proposal on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection.