LUXEMBOURG (CN) - The European Parliament deserves an equal say with the European Union members states on classifying safe countries for asylum, the European Court of Justice ruled.
The court annulled certain provisions of a directive the EU Council adopted, which provided procedures for member states to follow in granting and withdrawing refugee status.
Parliament took issue with its diminished role under the directive. The EU gave itself the power to act as a "qualified majority" and adopt a list of safe countries after only consulting Parliament. The EU stripped Parliament of its equal decision-making power under the EC Treaty and "reserved to itself a right to legislate," Parliament claimed.
Europe's highest court agreed, finding that the EU had "exceed(ed) the powers conferred on it by the Treaty."
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