Towards a new European refugee policy that works


Amelie Constant & Klaus F. Zimmermann

#2016-062

While Europe feels inundated by the 2015 refugee waves, the policy responses of the European Union and its member countries exhibit signs of helplessness. The Dublin system assigning responsibility to the country of first-entry has failed. Identifying true asylum seekers effectively and distributing them fairly across Europe requests loyalty to the once accepted humanitarian standards and solidarity with the principles of Europe. A turnaround of the European asylum policy is needed: Commonly organised registration, selection and distribution systems have to be followed by an early access of asylum seekers to the European labour markets.

JEL Classification: F51; F55; H75; J61; J64; J68

Keywords: Refugees, Asylees, Asylum Policy, Migration, Labour Market Access

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UNU-MERIT