Turin's CIE - International University College of Turin

asylum law 163 . In addition, decisions about applications must be given in writing and negative
decisions must be motivated and written information must be provided explaining how to
challenge negative decisions 164 . Finally, Member States must ensure that applicants have the
right to an effective remedy before a court against negative decisions taken on their application
for asylum 165 .
Italian Law
Italy transposed the three aforementioned EU directives into domestic law 166 .
However, Italy’s treatment of asylum seekers and refugees has been considered as extremely
controversial within the European Union, amidst international human rights NGOs and at Italy’s
2010 Universal Periodic Review by the United Nations Human Rights Council 167 . For example,
on 2 July 2012 the Administrative Court of Stuttgart in Germany decided that the applicant
asylum seekers could not be sent back to Italy under the “Dublin II Regulation” 168 . In making
their decision, the judges took into consideration the decision of the Court of Justice of the
European Union of 21 December 2011 (C-411/10 and 493/10) and decided that if the applicant
asylum seekers were returned to Italy they would be faced with the risk of “inhuman and
degrading treatment” based on the “systemic deficiencies” of the asylum procedures and
reception conditions in Italy. This recent decision is in line with similar assessments given in
past months by other administrative courts all over Germany, such as the courts in Lüneburg,
Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Dusseldorf, Augsburg, Gelsenkirchen and Magdeburg 169 .
163 Directive 2005/85/EC, Article 7(3).
164 Directive 2005/85/EC, Articles 9(1) and 9(2).
165 Directive 2005/85/EC, Article 39.
166 Decreto Legislativo 30 maggio 2005, n. 140 “Attuazione della direttiva 2003/9/CE che stabilisce norme
minime relative all'accoglienza dei richiedenti asilo negli Stati membri” (GU n. 168 del 21-7-2005). Legislative
Decree 30 May 2005, n. 140 “The implementation of Directive 2003/9/EC laying down the minimum standards
for the reception of asylum seekers” (GU n. 168 of 21-7-2005); Decreto Legislativo 19 novembre 2007, n. 251
“Attuazione della direttiva 2004/83/CE recante norme minime sull’attribuzione, a cittadini di Paesi terzi o
apolidi della qualifica del rifugiato o di persona altrimenti bisognosa di protezione internazionale, nonché
norme minime sul contenuto della protezione riconosciuta” (GU n. 3 del 4-1-2008). Legislative Decree 19
November 2007 “The implementation of Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and
status of third country nationals as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the
content of the protection granted” (GU n. 3 of 4-1-2008); Decreto Legislativo 28 gennaio 2008, n. 25
“Attuazione della direttiva 2005/85/CE recante norme minime per le procedure applicate negli Stati membri ai
fini del riconoscimento e della revoca dello status di rifugiato” (GU n. 40 del 16-2-2008). Legislative Decree 28
January 2008, n. 25 “The implementation of Directive 2005/85/EC on the minimum standards on procedures in
Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status” (GU n. 40 of 16-2-2008).
167
See for example: Amnesty International, Annual Report 2012, 2012
; Human Rights Watch, Annual Report 2012: Events of
2011, 2012, 450-452 ; Thomas Hammarberg, Report by Thomas
Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, following his visit to Italy from 26 to
27 May 2011, CommDH(2011)26, Strasbourg, 7 September 2011; International Commission of Jurists, United
Nations Human Rights Council 7 th Session Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review 8-19 February
2010: ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy, September 2009, 3; for a full list of questions
raised and recommendations made to Italy at the Human Rights Council peer-based review process, see
.
168 Verwaltungsgericht Stuttgart, Urteil vom 12. Juli 1990-A 9 K 10452/89, A 9 K 10452/89, Germany:
Verwaltungsgericht, 12 July 1990; Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003, establishing the
criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application
lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national, L 50/1 Official Journal of the European Union
25.2.2003 (“Dublin II Regulation”).
169 For more details about the information that the Stuttgart Court considered in making their determination
about the living conditions of asylum seekers in Italy, see the report done by the German NGO “Pro Asyl”:
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