A single and fairer asylum procedure With the amendments of two existing legislative instruments of the Common European Asylum System the EU intends to provide “a higher degree of protection to victims of persecutions as asked for by the European Council”. In particular, the proposal is designed to clarify “the actors of international protection”, and ensure the simplification of “asylum procedures”. The proposals advanced a few days ago by the Commission “are expected to improve the coherence between EU asylum instruments, simplify and consolidate substantive and procedural standards of protection across the Union, thus preventing fraud and improving efficiency of the asylum process”. The issue is related to the Hague Programme. Vice-President Jacques Barrot, Commissioner responsible for Freedom, Security and Justice, stated: “Today, the Commission puts in place the final building blocks of the Common European Asylum System. Significant progress has been accomplished in recent years as a result of the implementation of common standards, but considerable disparities remain between Member States”. The proposals, due to be examined by EU27, “represent a major step forward towards achieving higher standards of protection, a more equal level playing field as well as higher efficiency and coherence for the system”.As relates to the “Qualification Directory”, among other things the proposal aims to: “clarify certain legal concepts used to define the grounds for protection”, “These clarifications will enable national authorities to apply the criteria more robustly and to identify more quickly persons in need of protection and those who are not”; eliminate the differences in the level of rights across States such as duration of residence permits, access to social welfare, health care and the labour market. As relates to “procedures” the aim is to “facilitate” asylum seekers’ “access to examination procedures” and “enhance the efficiency of the examination process of applications”. Trasport/1: EU invests 500 million euro in 11 StatesThe European Commission decided to allocate funds originally intended to be spread out over several years and support initiatives that may directly contribute to the revival of European economy. Accordingly, 500 million will be devoted to transport infrastructure programs across the EU. The grants will be allocated under the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) program, “which helps to fund works to build missing transport links or remove bottlenecks in order to enable people and goods to circulate quickly and easily between Member States”. The 500 million package “constitutes a vital part of the Commission’s response to the economic crisis”. European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani in charge of transport, commented, “It is my conviction that the EU’s capacity to grow depends on the quality of its transport infrastructure and the TEN-T program plays an essential role in ensuring its progress”. The funding announced today will go towards projects in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. A second group of projects benefitting from TEN-T funding will be announced later this year. TEN-T funding will go, among others, to the development of railway lines, rebuilding or restoration of bridges and roads, enlargement of ports and construction of a pier, building an urban highway tunnel, Thames Estuary dredge and reclamation works.Trasport/2: improving infrastructures in Northern Europe Improving major transport connections in northern Europe, to the advantage of the economy and the relation between the States. The “Northern Dimension Partnership on Transport and Logistics” was launched by the EU on October 21 and its neighboring Countries. The Partnership is aimed at “improving major transnational transport connections while stimulating sustainable economic growth in the region with the aim of improving major transport connections in northern Europe”. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by representatives of the European Commission, Norway, Russia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Belarus. Åsa Torstensson, Minister of Enterprise, Energy and Communications of Sweden, representing the Presidency added: “Northern Europe is a region rich in natural resources and with a highly developed industrial sector. The long distances within the region as well as to major markets pose a challenge to the transport sector”. The Northern Dimension Partnership on Transport and Logistics “provides a highly promising framework for jointly exploring what measures and projects need to be implemented to improve the infrastructure connecting the countries in the region” and beyond.
