Change to the EU's asylum regime will be slow

Abstract

Significance Rising migrant flows across the Mediterranean are straining the EU's current 'Dublin' asylum system. Nearly all member states and EU institutions recognise the failures of the system, but no credible alternative has so far been proposed. The latest crisis appears to have prompted Germany to abandon hopes of securing improved implementation of the Dublin system, and to switch to calling for its replacement. Impacts The EU's Frontex missions in the Mediterranean are unlikely to take on a search-and-rescue mandate. This will leave commercial shipping to continue to take much of the burden of dealing with migrants in distress. Deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean and elsewhere are unlikely to decline as smugglers adapt their practices to EU enforcement measures.