The Intergovernmental Conference which opened in March 1996 is considering possible amendments to the EU Treaties. It is open to any member state to table proposals for treaty changes at the Intergovernmental Conference. However, any Treaty changes must be agreed unanimously.
One member state has tabled a proposal designed to ensure that no member state shall agree to process an application for asylum or refugee status submitted by a national of another member state.
The Irish Presidency's outline draft Treaty, which was accepted by the Dublin European Council in December as a good basis for the further work of the conference, does not contain a suggested draft Treaty amendment in this area. It does however recall the important proposal which had been tabled and which should be considered further by the conference.
The Dublin European Council asked the Intergovernmental Conference "to develop the important proposal to amend the Treaties to establish it as a clear principle that no citizen of a member state of the union may apply for asylum in another member state, taking into account international Treaties".