Improving Europes Refugee Policy in Seven Easy Steps

The deaths of thousands of migrants and the bad treatment of migrants by some European
governments raises ethical and legal questions and maybe more than anything the question how
European states should act when it comes to allowing migrants from Syria and elsewhere access
to the EU. In this short text I will suggest a seven step approach which should (and which can) be
implemented in a timely manner.
Specifically, EU member states should
(1) Agree on EU-wide immigration rules which facilitate rather than hinder immigration and which
take into account international legal obligations of member states under refugee and human
rights law.
(2) Establish, with the consent of the host states, consulates in refugee centers e.g. in Lebanon
and Turkey.
(3) Accept immigration and asylum applications in the aforementioned consulates.
(4) Support host states, international organizations and NGOs in the operation of refugee centers
in order to secure adequate living standards including different forms of education and
vocational training, compatible with the demands of human dignity and human rights.
(5) Process the applications made by migrants under (2) in a timely manner and consistent with
rule of law and human rights principles.
(6) Provide accepted migrants with work permits in and save transport to the destination countries.
(7) Enable migrants to gain citizenship after a predetermined time of residence and guarantee
descendants of migrants access
Chances are that the costs incurred by rich states under this scheme will be not much higher than
those they would incur if asylum, visa and work permit applications are dealt with only slowly and
migrants were to depend on welfare. States might actually make a profit since migrants who have
already learned the local language, gained new skills (in addition to vocational training, academic
education, work experience etc. many migrants already possess) will be more likely to find work
soon and will contribute to the local, national and EU economy and will pay taxes. Such a solution
would also have the benefit of working if only some EU member states were to engage in this
approach and also if the agreement suggested under (1) would not be achieved. If Europe wants to
control immigration and at the same time remain open and an example to others when it comes to
the active protection of human rights, these steps might go a long way towards realizing these
goals.
Stefan Kirchner
University Lecturer for Fundamental and Human Rights
Faculty of Law, University of Lapland
Rovaniemi, Finland