Justice and Home Affairs Act on Migration and Other Criminal Cooperation Issues

On November 28-29, 2002, the European Council took action on migration and a host of other criminal cooperation and criminal justice issues. Determination of EU Member Responsible to Examine an Asylum Application: The Danish Presidency floated a compromise text concerning the time limits that lead to identifying the EU Member responsible to examine the asylum application in case of illegal entry. If it is established that an asylum seeker has irregularly crossed the border into an EU Member, this EU Member will be responsible for the application for examining the asylum claim for as long as twelve months after the date of the border crossing. After this period, that EU Member will be responsible to examine the claim, in which the asylum seeker has been previously living for at least five months. Status of Third-Country Nationals and Stateless Persons as Refugees or as Needing International Protection: The Council achieved political agreement on a great number of Articles concerning the proposal for a Council Directive on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third-country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection. The Council instructed the Permanent Representatives to continue the work to reach political agreement at a forthcoming Council Meeting.