The Dublin Agreement is a European Union policy that determines which EU country is responsible for processing asylum applications from refugees. This agreement was first signed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1990, and it has since been revised several times.
The main principle of the Dublin Agreement is that the member state where a refugee first enters the EU is responsible for processing their asylum application. This is known as the «first country of asylum» principle. The idea behind this principle is to prevent «asylum shopping,» where refugees move from country to country until they find the one where they are most likely to be granted asylum.
However, this policy has been criticized for placing an unfair burden on the countries where refugees first arrive, such as Italy and Greece. These countries often lack the resources to process large numbers of asylum applications and provide adequate support for refugees.
The Dublin Agreement has also been criticized for not allowing refugees to reunite with family members who may be living in other EU countries. This can cause significant hardship for refugees who are separated from their loved ones.
In 2015, the Dublin Agreement came under further scrutiny as the number of refugees entering the EU increased dramatically, largely due to conflicts in Syria and other parts of the Middle East. The agreement was suspended for several months to allow for the relocation of refugees to other EU countries, but it was eventually reinstated.
Overall, the Dublin Agreement is a complex and controversial policy that has significant implications for refugees seeking asylum in the EU. While it aims to ensure that asylum applications are processed fairly and efficiently, it also places a heavy burden on the member states where refugees first enter the EU. As the refugee crisis continues to evolve, it will be important for policymakers to consider the impact of this policy and explore alternative solutions that can better serve the needs of refugees and EU member states alike.