The UK Dublin Agreement After Brexit: What You Need to Know
As the UK officially leaves the European Union, questions surrounding the future of the UK Dublin Agreement are mounting. The UK Dublin Agreement, also known as the Dublin Regulation, is a European Union law that determines which EU member state is responsible for processing an asylum seeker`s application for protection. The agreement was designed to prevent multiple asylum applications and to ensure that asylum seekers are provided with safe and legal pathways to protection.
With the UK`s departure from the EU, the UK Dublin Agreement is set to change. The UK government has stated that it would like to negotiate a new bilateral agreement with the EU that would allow for the continued cooperation on asylum matters between the UK and EU member states. In the meantime, the UK has announced that it will continue to apply the Dublin Regulation until the end of 2020.
What does this mean for asylum seekers? While the UK Dublin Agreement is being renegotiated, asylum seekers in the UK will still be required to have their applications processed under the Dublin Regulation. Asylum seekers who have family members living in an EU member state may be sent there to have their applications processed. Alternatively, asylum seekers may be required to remain in the UK while their application is processed, especially if they have arrived in the UK illegally.
For those living in the UK, the continuation of the Dublin Regulation means that they will still be able to reunite with family members living in an EU member state. However, there is some uncertainty as to whether this will continue after the end of 2020.
The UK Dublin Agreement is just one aspect of the complex issues surrounding asylum and immigration after Brexit. As the UK negotiates its future relationship with the EU, it is vital that the needs of asylum seekers and refugees are taken into consideration. A bilateral agreement that ensures a fair and humane approach to asylum is crucial.
In conclusion, the UK Dublin Agreement will undergo significant changes following Brexit. However, until a new agreement is negotiated, the Dublin Regulation will continue to be applied in the UK. It is important to remember that asylum seekers and refugees are human beings who are seeking protection and should be treated with dignity and respect. The UK government must ensure that asylum seekers are provided with safe and legal pathways to protection, regardless of their nationality or how they arrived in the UK.