Quality and Efficiency in the Asylum Process
On 13th and 14th September 2010, the Presidency will hold a ministerial conference dedicated to quality and efficiency in the asylum process. The Belgian Presidency wishes to invite all of the Member States and the European Institutions as well as the High Commissioner for Refugees and civil society to take part in the conference. The meeting is primarily intended to inventory good practices that contribute to a more efficient asylum policy in the Member States, in compliance with defined quality standards.
The asylum conference is organised around three main subjects that are each subdivided into other topics:
Asylum seekers with special needs
- unaccompanied minors :alternatives to detention for families with children who are minors
- gender-related needs:interviewing techniques
- Asylum seekers suffering from trauma: how to identify them?
Decision process
- asylum interviews
- training
- information about countries of origin
- accelerated procedures:
- Priority procedures
-
Multiple applications
Intra-European solidarity
- financial solidarity : European Refugee Fund
- physical solidarity: Resettlement
- material solidarity: Capacity building
The first day of the asylum conference will be dedicated to presentations in a plenary session and parallel workshops about each of the three subjects. An observer will be designated to lead the workshop and to report to the plenary session and the ministers, who will then discuss the outcome of these workshops on the second day. A panel member will initiate the debate for each of the sub-themes with a provocative statement. Belgium is trying to find the right balance between member states, EU and international organisations and community-based organisations when selecting observers and the panel member.
Parallel to the ministerial meeting on the second day, the Belgian chairmanship wants to organise a ‘market place’ for good practice, where member states as well as community-based organisations can present, exchange and discuss interesting examples of quality and efficiency in the asylum process.
The press conference will be held on Tuesday 14 September at 4 PM.
- Training: European Asylum Curriculum
- Information on the countries of origin
