EU Wants Asylum Applicants to Work Sooner and Improve Integration

The European Union Parliament has stated that, under a draught law agreed upon by it and the Council, registered asylum seekers will be able to begin working sooner and their integration prospects will improve.

According to the Parliament, the new requirements are part of the updated Reception Conditions Directive, which aims to offer equal reception standards for asylum seekers throughout EU Member States in terms of health care, material conditions, and a sufficient standard of life.

Furthermore, the new measures will help to prevent asylum seekers from travelling around the bloc after they have been registered.

According to the EU Parliament, asylum seekers should be allowed to work no later than six months after registering, rather than the existing nine months, to boost their chances of living independently and integrating locally.

Furthermore, it has been said that in order to improve the integration prospects of asylum seekers, they will be given access to language classes, vocational courses, or civic education courses.

The Parliament has noted that under the new deal on reception conditions Member States of the EU must also ensure that all unaccompanied kids are appointed a guardian no later than 15 days after they make an application for international protection.

Furthermore, the same highlighted that unaccompanied youngsters must enter the school systems of the Member States no later than two months following their arrival.

Parliament has also achieved an agreement on detention. According to the latter, EU Member States have the power to decide that an applicant who poses a risk to public order must remain in a certain location so that they do not flee.

Sophia in 't Veld, a Member of the Parliament, applauded the agreement on welcoming conditions.

“Today’s agreement on reception conditions is a breakthrough. Not only because the co-legislators are finally advancing the work on a common European asylum system, but most importantly because this agreement should lead to tangible improvements in the lives of asylum applicants across the EU,” Veld stated.

Furthermore, Veld stated that it is past time for Europe to put on a human face and maintain uniform and excellent reception standards.

The agreement must now be ratified by the Council, the plenary, and the Civil Liberties Committee before it can go into effect. After the directive is approved, Member States will have two years to incorporate directive provisions into their national legislation.

By fLEXI tEAM