Speaking after the release of the Commission proposals for the further reform of the Common European Asylum System, Birgit Sippel, S&D Spokesperson for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affair, said:
 
“In general we are in favour of a European approach to tackling the refugee crisis and managing asylum flows. We will need to look at the details of these latest reforms in the coming days. However, we are concerned by some elements of these proposals. Further reform of the Common European Asylum System should not lead to a lowering of the current level of protection offered by EU asylum law. We are afraid that these proposals could be a step in the wrong direction.”

“These plans focus primarily on the most restrictive roles, from accelerating asylum procedures to safe countries of origin and third countries, or the fight against so-called secondary migration. Although the strengthening of protection for unaccompanied minors is to be welcomed, it does not make up for the lowering of standards in all other areas.

“We will look at these proposals in the coming weeks but what the Commission needs to focus on is making sure that existing rules are implemented correctly and fully across Member States.”