Responsibility sharing in EU asylum policy - Discussion Brief

Responsibility-sharing in EU asylum policy: the never-ending debate
The peak in asylum arrivals during 2015 and 2016 put responsibility-sharing on top of the EU agenda. The Commission quickly launched many initiatives including a temporary relocation mechanism and a total reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) and the Dublin System. These proposals for mandatory relocation have raised significant opposition from a group of Member States. As a result, two years later, Member States are not even close to an agreement on CEAS and Dublin reform. Despite this political deadlock, responsibility-sharing remains a top priority for the EU institutions and most Member States.