Dublin Agreement 3

The Dublin Agreement 3: What You Need to Know

The Dublin Agreement 3 is a treaty signed by European countries in 2013 concerning asylum seekers and their applications for protection. This agreement is actually the third version of the original Dublin Agreement, which was signed in 1990 and revised in 2003. The purpose of the Dublin Agreement 3 is to establish a system for determining which European country is responsible for examining an asylum application, based on certain criteria.

Under the Dublin Agreement 3, the responsibility for examining an asylum application lies with the first European country in which the applicant arrives. This is known as the principle of “first country of asylum.” The idea behind this principle is that it prevents asylum seekers from making multiple applications in different European countries, which can lead to a “race to the bottom” in terms of standards and conditions for asylum seekers.

However, there are exceptions to the principle of first country of asylum. For example, if an asylum seeker has family members in another European country, that country may be responsible for examining the application instead. Similarly, if an asylum seeker has already been granted protection in another European country, they cannot make a new application in a different country.

The Dublin Agreement 3 also includes provisions for the transfer of asylum seekers between European countries. If it is determined that another European country is responsible for examining an application, the asylum seeker can be transferred to that country. However, there are certain conditions that must be met for such transfers to take place. For example, the asylum seeker must be informed of their rights and have the opportunity to appeal the decision to transfer them.

Overall, the Dublin Agreement 3 is a complex treaty that seeks to establish a fair and efficient system for determining which European country is responsible for examining asylum applications. While the principle of first country of asylum is generally seen as a positive step, there have been concerns raised about the treatment of asylum seekers in some European countries. As such, the Dublin Agreement 3 remains a subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny.