Does Accommodating Solidarity in EU Asylum Law Require a Paradigm Shift? From Solidarity despite Asylum Seekers to Solidarity towards Asylum Seekers

Abstract[En]: Acknowledging the central role of solidarity within the architecture of the EU, the paper investigates the internal and external dimension of solidarity. In order to evaluate the EU commitment towards its accommodation, the paper investigates how solidarity has been embedded into the CEAS and under the provisions of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Once pointed out that solidarity – despite being a universal value – is mostly intended for the benefit of EU States, the paper advocates for a paradigm change where the focus of EU asylum legislation ceases to be the affected State(s) but rather becomes the affected individuals.

Abstract[It]: Osservando il ruolo preminente svolto dal concetto di solidarietà nell’architettura dell’Unione europea, l’articolo si occupa di analizzare la dimensione interna ed esterna di tale valore al fine di valutare se, ed in che misura, esso i) sia stato effettivamente accomodato nel Sistema Europeo Comune di Asilo (CEAS), ii) sia adeguatamente perseguito dal Nuovo Patto sulla Migrazione e l’Asilo. In esito a tale analisi, l’articolo sottolinea la necessità di adottare disposizioni normative che promuovano la solidarietà anche nella sua dimensione esterna, così rispettando la portata universale di tale principio.

Keywords: EU Solidarity; Common European Asylum System; New Pact on Migration and Asylum; Non-refoulement; Human rights

Parole chiave: Solidarietà; Sistema Europeo Comune di Asilo; Nuovo Patto sulla Migrazione e l’Asilo; Non-refoulement, diritti fondamentali

Summary: 1. Introduction. 2. Solidarity within EU asylum law as a multifaceted concept. 3. (A glimpse of) solidarity within the EU normative framework. 4. The EU (new?) strategy on migration and asylum: putting the old wine in a new cask. 4.1. The internal dimension of solidarity. 4.2. The external dimension of solidarity. 5. The EU and the overarching question of solidarity at sea: letting wine turn into vinegar. 6. Concluding observations: the need to reconceptualise EU solidarity.