Tag Archives: EU
18 October 2013
On 18 October 2013, a seminar will be held in Amsterdam entitled A New Framework for Allocating International Responsibility: the EU Accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
On 5 April 2013, a draft agreement was concluded on the modalities for the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights. The seminar critically reflects on one key aspect of the draft agreement: the allocation of international responsibility between the EU and its member states, as well as between the member states. In particular, it reviews whether the agreement adequately addresses the gaps in human rights protection that presently arise from the specific relationship between the EU and its member states.
During this seminar, the issues of attribution and responsibility; the co-respondent mechanism; and the allocation of responsibility within the legal order of the EU will be discussed. (more…)
1 June 2013
The European Court of Human Rights declared inadmissible a complaint brought against Italy and the Netherlands of an asylum seeker whose transfer to Italy was ordered by the Dutch authorities pursuant to the EU Dublin Regulation (Mohammed Hussein a.o. v the Netherlands and Italy). The Court’s rigorous scrutiny of the treatment of asylum seekers in Italy suggests that it aimed to set a standard for similar cases.
After the European Court had declared the intra-EU transfer of an asylum seeker to Greece in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights in January 2011 (the case of M.S.S., see also here), litigation in several Member States shifted to other allegedly unsafe countries for asylum seekers, in particular Italy. Some NGOs highlighted failures in the Italian protection system and advised to refrain from deporting asylum seekers to Italy (see here and here). (more…)
31 May 2013
On 28 May 2013, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, presented his report on the management of the external borders of the European Union (EU) and the impact on the human rights of migrants to the UN Human Rights Council.
In his report, he warned that the increasing competence of the European Union in the field of migration has not always been accompanied by a corresponding guarantee of rights for migrants themselves, and in particular irregular migrants.
Mr. Crépeau also stressed there has been an ‘externalization’ of border control, through which countries of departure or transit bear all the responsibility for preventing irregular migration, and underlined that the EU must share this responsibility among its member states.
Source: United Nations Human Rights | News | EU border management: “More attention must be given to the human rights of migrants” - UN expert
3 May 2013
The Bangladesh garment building disaster has prompted western clothing brands, and also consumers to consider their shared responsibility. Some western clothing brands that were having items made there have promised financial compensation for the deaths. The European Union is reconsidering trade arrangements, and it is reported that ‘some consumers feel confused over whether they should feel a shared responsibility because of their low-price shopping habits.’
Bangladesh worst ever industrial accident (the third deadly accident in recent months) has killed over 433 people. Both the EU and the US, which are major importers, have pressured Bangladesh to raise the standards. Factory owners in Bangladesh as well as western apparel retailers have faced intense pressure from governments, consumers and labour groups to improve workplace safety.
Source: The New York Times | Bangladesh Fears an Exodus of Apparel Firms
Source: Euronews | Bangladesh workers dying for lack of responsible regulation
2 May 2013
A draft law was agreed on by EU Council and Parliament representatives, and endorsed by the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday 24 April 2013.
To reduce disparities in the asylum procedures among EU member states, Council and Parliament have agreed to review the Asylum Procedures Directive (2005) to harmonise procedural guarantees for asylum seekers. Asylum seekers would get fairer, more uniform access to international protection across the European Union under this new law. Also, special guarantees for vulnerable persons and deadlines for EU states to process an asylum application have been inserted.
This draft law is part of the backbone of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which will be put to a plenary vote in June. In order to enter into force, the draft text needs to receive backing of the member states and confirmation by the Parliament, which might happen in June.
Source: European Parliament Press Release | Civil Liberties Committee backs plan to improve asylum procedures