The Right to Seek Refugee Status in the European Union

In recent years the laws and policies on asylum of the EU and its Member States have converged towards greater restriction and raise concern as to the commitment of the EU to protect the right to seek refugee status within its territory and uphold this fundamental right beyond its borders. This book analyses the implications of the EU asylum policy for the right to seek refugee status within the meaning of the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. The author contends that the development of other forms of international protection does not erode the relevance of the Convention, which remains a cornerstone of refugee protection. Relevant EU legislation and proposals for future legislation are measured against the standards set out in international refugee and human rights law with a view to making law reform proposals for the protection of the right to seek refugee status within the EU. Substantive and procedural issues are examined to this end. Refugee protection presents considerable challenges for the EU, its Member States and the international community at large. It is critical that adherence to international standards remains central to the shaping of the EU asylum policy if the EU is to face up to its responsibilities and obligations.