Asylum seekers in Europe could work as soon as two months, receive language courses

Asylum seekers could be working as soon as two months after applying for asylum and will get access to language courses when their application is filed, MEPs on the Civil Liberties Committee said. In addition, the officials added that detention of children should be prohibited in the EU.

Committee MEPs said asylum seekers should be able to work in the EU no later than two months after applying for asylum and applicants for international protection should also get access to language courses from the moment their application is filed, to improve their integration prospects and self-sufficiency.

Hiring asylum seekers would still be member state choice, as for reasons of labour market policies, and especially regarding youth unemployment levels, countries may verify whether a vacancy could be filled through preferential access by their nationals, other EU citizens or by third-country nationals.

MEPs also aim to ensure equal and high reception standards in all member states, which should contribute to a more dignified treatment and fairer distribution of applicants across the Union.

Another key element of EU policy on asylum seekers regards minors. MEPs say detention of asylum-seekers should be a measure of last resort and should always be based on a decision by a judicial authority, while detention or any confinement of children, whether unaccompanied or within families, should be prohibited.

The Civil Liberties Committee MEPs concluded that member states must ensure that every unaccompanied minor gets a guardian from the moment of their arrival in the EU, as well as immediate access to health care and education under the same conditions as national minors.

“Today we show that the European Parliament can agree sustainable and progressive solutions. On one element, we all agreed immediately: children should not be detained on any condition. I am pleased that this Parliament is willing to stand up for better protection of child asylum seekers. Detention is never in the best interests of a child. Newcomers in Europe need support to be able to learn the language immediately so they can start to integrate right away. It is in everyone’s interest that they participate as soon as possible in the host society and language is the starting point,” Parliament’s rapporteur for the proposal, Sophia In ‘t Veld (ALDE, NL), said.

The committee approved its changes to the draft legislation by 42 votes to 9, with 3 abstentions. MEPs also backed the opening of inter-institutional negotiations and the composition of the negotiating team. This decision needs to be endorsed by Parliament as a whole before beginning talks with the Council and the Commission on the final form of the text.

The number of first time asylum seekers who applied for international protection in the European Union last year is almost double that of 2014. Over 1,2 million people came to Europe in 2016, and Germany recorded more than half of all first time applicants in the EU. A million more are waiting to be accepted.