Asylum Conditionality: Development of Asylum Systems in the Western Balkans in the Context of the European Union’s External Dimension

Abstract

the article aims to examine how the establishment of asylum systems has evolved into a requirement for accession to the European Union for the countries in the Western Balkans and the rationale underlying this. the requirements of international law concerning fair and efficient asylum procedures are also discussed with reference to the requirement under the European Union acquis relating to asylum of a full and inclusive application of the 1951 convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Furthermore, the legality of asylum conditionality in the context of accession to the European Union is looked at and an examination made of the progress achieved to date in the four countries in the region that have functioning asylum procedures.Keywords Asylum · Enlargement · Western Balkans 1) lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. evidence to the House of lords, 53 rd report, session 2005-6, Hl paper 273.