“Equality of treatment and solidarity”: these are the “keywords” in terms of asylum on which the Commission intends to focus. On 6 June it released three documents: a green paper “aimed at stimulating a debate on the future of the European common regime”; a draft directive “aimed at offering the beneficiaries of international protection the chance to obtain the status of long-time guest”; and a report evaluating the functioning of the Dublin system, which is one of the instruments adopted by the Union in this field. “In 2006 – explains Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini, who holds the portfolio of justice, freedom and security – over 181,000 persons applied for asylum in the territory of the EU. A fair and effective system is needed to process these applications. The common regime in this sphere must offer greater protection to those who really have a need for it”. Frattini adds that the EU must also “promote the integration of citizens of third countries who have obtained protection in Europe”. The Commission will publish “a strategic plan based on the results of the consultation” at the beginning of next year.
