Establishing a European Asylum Support Office

At the request of Germany, the Council had a general debate on the principles which should underlie EU asylum legislation.

Ministers made reference to legislative proposals already under discussion as well as two proposals which the Commission is expected to table shortly. These upcoming proposals will deal with qualification and status as a refugee or a person otherwise in need of international protection and with procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status.

Ministers were confident that further work on the legislative proposals would benefit from their discussion and the evaluation of how the current European legislation on asylum issues is

implemented. The two outstanding proposals mentioned above will complement five other legislative acts in the area of asylum which are already under negotiation: the Dublin regulation, the EURODAC regulation, the reception conditions directive, the European Asylum Support Office and the amendment of the European Refugee Fund.