The Dublin Convention and the Asylum Seeker Crisis: Understanding the Impact of Brexit on Migration and Food Security

In the wake of Britain's exit from the European Union, the Dublin Convention, which governed asylum seeker policies within the EU, ceased to apply to the UK. This shift led to a significant increase in asylum seekers crossing the English Channel, primarily from African and Asian countries. The author argues that the UK should not attempt to absorb this influx of migrants and instead focus on developing policies to address the root causes of migration, including food security and poverty.

Key Takeaways:

• The Dublin Convention, signed on June 15, 1990, governed asylum seeker policies within the EU, but ceased to apply to the UK after Brexit in 2020.
• Prior to Brexit, there were no boat people crossing the English Channel, but after 2020, thousands of migrants arrived in the UK, primarily from African and Asian countries.
• The EU member states were not obliged to accept the return of foreign nationals who had traveled from an EU country and landed in the UK, following Brexit.
• Britain can no longer return asylum seekers to EU states, as per the Dublin Convention.
• The author highlights the stark contrast between food security in the UK and African countries, where poverty and hunger are rampant.
• The author suggests that the UK and EU should focus on developing policies to address the root causes of migration, including food security and poverty.
• The author references Ernest Bevin, Britain's Foreign Secretary, who signed the country's membership in NATO and emphasized the need for collective action to address world hunger.
• Britain has a history of food imports, dating back over 140 years, and is not self-sufficient in food production.

Statistics:

• The Dublin Convention was signed on June 15, 1990, and first came into force on September 1, 1997, for the first 12 signatory countries.
• The first groups of boat people arrived in the UK after Brexit in 2020.
• The author mentions that some people can afford to pay £1,000,000 for a painting, but notes that thousands of people in Africa starve to death due to poverty.
• The author references the UNHCR provisions, which ensure that migrants will not be forcibly returned if they have a legitimate fear of persecution.

Sources:

• The Dublin Convention was signed on June 15, 1990
• Ernest Bevin's speech, referred to in the article, is not cited specifically, but his membership in NATO is mentioned.