Contesting Europe? The Application of and Respect for the EU's Dublin Asylum Rules in Times of Crisis

This project concerns the interplay of state action and migrants’ behaviour in the regulation of mobility in the European Union (EU). It focuses on the application of and respect for the EU’s Dublin regime which constrains asylum seekers from moving freely within the EU. The Dublin rules allocate responsibility for the examination of asylum claims in the EU, usually to the member states first entering into contact with an asylum seeker. If an asylum seeker moves on to another member state, the Dublin rules allow for the return of the individual to the country of first contact. How do EU member states apply this regime ‘on the ground’ in times of crisis? In what manner do their policies and actions collude with the behaviour of the migrants? The project plans to apply a mixed methods approach including expert interviews with state officials and focus groups with particular groups of asylum seekers. The interactions within the focus groups will reveal shared experiences or conflicting views on points raised by other participants, thereby investigating and comparing migrants’ perceptions and experiences with administrative practices applying the EU’s Dublin regime.