Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/09/2023
09:00 - 13:30
Location
Press Club Brussels Europe
Categories
ECRE & UNHCR Roundtable
What comes after? Transition out of the EU asylum reform and the TPD
7 September 2023, 09h00 to 13h30
Press Club Brussels Europe, Rue Froissart 95, Brussels
09h00: Registration
09h30 – 09h40: Welcome address by UNHCR
– Stefan Maier – Head of Policy and Legal Support Unit, UNHCR Representation for EU Affairs
09h40 – 11h30: Session I Transition out of the reform: The Future Asylum System in the EU
Chair: Alexandra Embiricos, Protection Associate, UNHCR Representation for EU Affairs
In this session, the panelists will share their insights on the current state of play regarding the reform proposals, the possible outcome from the negotiations of co-legislators on the reform, the future of the asylum system beyond the reform proposals, and the possibilities to reflect the EU response to the Ukraine displacement for the strengthening of the European asylum system. Panelists will offer their assessments, predictions, and recommendations, covering the following questions:
- What is the current state of play on the reform proposals and the most likely fate of the asylum reform?
- What are the expectations for the Spanish and upcoming Belgian Council Presidencies on the Pact negotiations and transition out of the reform?
- What is the best possible outcome from the negotiations of the co-legislators? Which amendments should be accepted regarding the protection assessments?
- What are the opportunities and challenges for implementation? Panelists:
- Luis Cerdan Ortiz-Quintana, Home Affairs Counsellor, Spanish Council Presidency
- Esther Pozo Vera, Head of the Asylum Unit, DG HOME, European Commission – Catherine Woollard, Director, ECRE
11h30 – 11h45 Coffee Break
11h45 – 13h30: Session II EU Response to Ukrainian Displacement: From triggering TPD to transition out of the TP status
Chair: Viktoryia Vaitovich, Policy Officer, ECRE
Following the military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of people were forced to flee seeking safety and protection. By early March 2023, around 8 million individuals had fled from Ukraine, with nearly 5 million applied to temporary protection schemes in the EU. The activation of the Temporary Protection Directive rapidly met the protection needs of those seeking safety in the EU and grant accessing socio-economic rights from day one. Nevertheless, challenges arise due to the legal design of the TPD or its implementation in practice. TPD’s extension until March 2025 is anticipated, however, prompt measures and strategies must be established in preparation for its expiration in a timely and coordinated manner to ensure continuous access to rights.
This session will explore and discuss the latest developments related to the implementation of the TPD in the EU, the challenges and good practices in the implementation, and the post-TP options for individuals currently under temporary protection upon the expiry of the current protection regime. Panelists will offer their assessments, predictions, and recommendations, covering the following questions:
- What provisions have been made and are still needed for transition out of the TPD, including alternative legal statuses?
- How is the temporary protection regime fostering inclusion through accessing the socioeconomic rights and what challenges and best practices have emerged?
- How can the lessons learned from implementing the TPD be effectively applied to improve the asylum system for all individuals?
- What are the implications of Ukraine’s candidate status and how can the EU accession process be used in the EU response to displacement from Ukraine?
Panelists:
- Alix Müller-Rappard, Deputy Head of Migration Management Coordination Unit, DG HOME, European Commission
- Stefan Maier, Head of Policy and Legal Support Unit, UNHCR Representation for EU Affairs – Ivanna Herus, Head of Office, Right to Protection, Poland
Background
The policy roundtable is the latest in a series of roundtables on asylum in Europe which is part of the Strategic Partnership between UNHCR Regional Representation for EU Affairs and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles.
The meeting will take place in Brussels, Belgium. Participants will consist of civil society working on asylum in Europe, including members of ECRE, UNHCR staff, and EU policy-makers from the European Commission, European Parliament, and the EU Member States. The event will be divided into two sessions. For each session, following opening remarks from speakers, all participants will be invited to provide questions, comments, and reactions during the moderated discussion.