House of Lords - Brexit: refugee protection and asylum policy

AMIF

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund

EU fund to promote the management of migration flows and support a common EU approach to asylum and immigration.

‘Asylum seeker’

A person who has left their country of origin and formally applied for asylum in another country but whose application has not yet been concluded.

CAT / UNCAT

UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

CEAS

Common European Asylum System

EU rules to align Member States’ asylum legislation and promote cooperate (incl. The Asylum Procedures Directive, the Reception Conditions Directive, the Qualification Directive, the Dublin Regulation, the EURODAC Regulation). A 2016 package of proposals to reform the CEAS remain under negotiation.

COI

Country of Origin Information (COI) refers to information on countries from which asylum seekers originate relevant for decision-makers in the field of asylum.

Dublin System / Dublin III

The process of determining the EU State responsible for examining asylum applications by third country nationals under the Dublin III Regulation. Based on the principle that the first EU State where finger prints are stored, or an asylum claim is lodged, is responsible for a person’s asylum claim.

Dublin IV

Proposed reform to the Dublin System. Among other reforms, Dublin IV would provide for the relocation of new asylum applicants from EU States receiving disproportionate numbers.

‘Dubs amendment’/the ‘Dubs scheme’

Refers to section 67 of the Immigration Act, to allow unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to be relocated to the UK from other countries in Europe.

CJEU

Court of Justice of the European Union

EASO

European Asylum Support Office

EBCG/Frontex

European Border and Coast Guard Agency (known as Frontex)

ECHR

European Convention on Human Rights

EMN

European Migration Network

EU network of migration and asylum experts who work together to provide objective, comparable policy-relevant information.

EUAA

European Union Agency for Asylum

The new name of EASO pending agreement of the proposal to amend and expand the body’s mandate.

EURODAC

EU database of the fingerprints of asylum seekers

‘Hotspots’

Approach where EU agencies work on the ground with the authorities of EU States facing disproportionate migratory pressures at the EU’s external borders (e.g. Greece and Italy).

Support focuses on the registration, identification, fingerprinting and debriefing of asylum seekers, as well as return operations. EASO helps to process asylum applications as quickly as possible and Frontex helps to coordinate the return of irregular migrants who are not in need of protection.

‘Internal flight/relocation alternative’

The idea that, rather than seeking asylum in another country, a person should relocate to a specific area of their country of origin where there is no risk of a well-founded fear of persecution and where they could reasonably be expected to establish themselves and live a normal life.

ILO

Immigration Liaison Officer

‘Irregular migrant’

In the global context, a person who, owing to irregular entry, breach of a condition of entry or the expiry of their legal basis for entering and residing, lacks legal status in a transit or host country.

In the EU, a third-country national present in a Schengen State who does not fulfil, or no longer fulfils, the conditions of entry in the Schengen Borders Code, or other conditions for entry, stay or residence in that EU Member State.

‘Non-refoulement’

The principle that a refugee or asylum-seeker should not be returned to territories where there is a risk that his or her life or freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion (now considered customary international law).

‘Refugee’

In the UK, a person is officially a refugee when they have their claim for asylum accepted by the government. If the government agrees that an individual who has applied for asylum meets the definition in the Refugee Convention they will ‘recognise’ that person as a refugee and issue them with refugee status documentation. Usually refugees in the UK are given five years’ leave to remain as a refugee. They must then apply for further leave, although their status as a refugee is not limited to five years.

‘Return’

The movement of a person (whether voluntary or forced, assisted or spontaneous) going from a host country back to their country of origin, country of nationality or habitual residence usually after spending a significant period of time in the host country.

‘Secondary movement’

The movement of migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, from the country in which they first arrived to seek protection or permanent resettlement elsewhere.

SOGI

Sexual orientation and gender identity

‘Take charge request’

A request to from one Dublin System Member State to another to take charge of an asylum application (to accept responsibility for it). This must be made within three months of the date of the initial application, and the requested country must give a decision within two months of receiving the request.

UASC

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

UNCLOS

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

UN Convention on the Status of Refugees (the Refugee Convention)

1951 Convention, ratified by 145 State parties, which defines the term ‘refugee’ and outlines the rights of the displaced, as well as the legal obligations of States to protect them.

UN Protocol on the Status of Refugees

1967 Protocol which broadens the applicability of the Refugee Convention by removing geographical and time limits on the definition of a refugee.

UNHCR

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

VCRS

Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme

VPRS

Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme

AMIF	Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund EU fund to promote the management of migration flows and support a common EU approach to asylum and immigration.
‘Asylum seeker’	A person who has left their country of origin and formally applied for asylum in another country but whose application has not yet been concluded.
CAT / UNCAT	UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
CEAS	Common European Asylum System EU rules to align Member States’ asylum legislation and promote cooperate (incl. The Asylum Procedures Directive, the Reception Conditions Directive, the Qualification Directive, the Dublin Regulation, the EURODAC Regulation). A 2016 package of proposals to reform the CEAS remain under negotiation.
COI	Country of Origin Information (COI) refers to information on countries from which asylum seekers originate relevant for decision-makers in the field of asylum.
Dublin System / Dublin III	The process of determining the EU State responsible for examining asylum applications by third country nationals under the Dublin III Regulation. Based on the principle that the first EU State where finger prints are stored, or an asylum claim is lodged, is responsible for a person’s asylum claim.
Dublin IV	Proposed reform to the Dublin System. Among other reforms, Dublin IV would provide for the relocation of new asylum applicants from EU States receiving disproportionate numbers.
‘Dubs amendment’/the ‘Dubs scheme’	Refers to section 67 of the Immigration Act, to allow unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to be relocated to the UK from other countries in Europe.
CJEU	Court of Justice of the European Union
EASO	European Asylum Support Office
EBCG/Frontex	European Border and Coast Guard Agency (known as Frontex)
ECHR	European Convention on Human Rights
EMN	European Migration Network EU network of migration and asylum experts who work together to provide objective, comparable policy-relevant information.
EUAA	European Union Agency for Asylum The new name of EASO pending agreement of the proposal to amend and expand the body’s mandate.
EURODAC	EU database of the fingerprints of asylum seekers
‘Hotspots’	Approach where EU agencies work on the ground with the authorities of EU States facing disproportionate migratory pressures at the EU’s external borders (e.g. Greece and Italy). Support focuses on the registration, identification, fingerprinting and debriefing of asylum seekers, as well as return operations. EASO helps to process asylum applications as quickly as possible and Frontex helps to coordinate the return of irregular migrants who are not in need of protection.
‘Internal flight/relocation alternative’	The idea that, rather than seeking asylum in another country, a person should relocate to a specific area of their country of origin where there is no risk of a well-founded fear of persecution and where they could reasonably be expected to establish themselves and live a normal life.
ILO	Immigration Liaison Officer
‘Irregular migrant’	In the global context, a person who, owing to irregular entry, breach of a condition of entry or the expiry of their legal basis for entering and residing, lacks legal status in a transit or host country. In the EU, a third-country national present in a Schengen State who does not fulfil, or no longer fulfils, the conditions of entry in the Schengen Borders Code, or other conditions for entry, stay or residence in that EU Member State.
‘Non-refoulement’	The principle that a refugee or asylum-seeker should not be returned to territories where there is a risk that his or her life or freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion (now considered customary international law).
‘Refugee’	In the UK, a person is officially a refugee when they have their claim for asylum accepted by the government. If the government agrees that an individual who has applied for asylum meets the definition in the Refugee Convention they will ‘recognise’ that person as a refugee and issue them with refugee status documentation. Usually refugees in the UK are given five years’ leave to remain as a refugee. They must then apply for further leave, although their status as a refugee is not limited to five years.
‘Return’	The movement of a person (whether voluntary or forced, assisted or spontaneous) going from a host country back to their country of origin, country of nationality or habitual residence usually after spending a significant period of time in the host country.
‘Secondary movement’	The movement of migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, from the country in which they first arrived to seek protection or permanent resettlement elsewhere.
SOGI	Sexual orientation and gender identity
‘Take charge request’	A request to from one Dublin System Member State to another to take charge of an asylum application (to accept responsibility for it). This must be made within three months of the date of the initial application, and the requested country must give a decision within two months of receiving the request.
UASC	Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
UNCLOS	UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
UN Convention on the Status of Refugees (the Refugee Convention)	1951 Convention, ratified by 145 State parties, which defines the term ‘refugee’ and outlines the rights of the displaced, as well as the legal obligations of States to protect them.
UN Protocol on the Status of Refugees	1967 Protocol which broadens the applicability of the Refugee Convention by removing geographical and time limits on the definition of a refugee.
UNHCR	Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
VCRS	Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme
VPRS	Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme

Appendix 6: Glossary