Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 21 December 2011.

N. S. (C-411/10) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and M. E. and Others (C-493/10) v Refugee Applications Commissioner and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

References for a preliminary ruling: Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division) - United Kingdom and High Court of Ireland - Ireland.

European Union law - Principles - Fundamental rights - Implementation of European Union law - Prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment - Common European Asylum System - Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 - Concept of ‘safe countries’ - Transfer of an asylum seeker to the Member State responsible - Obligation - Rebuttable presumption of compliance, by that Member State, with fundamental rights.

Joined cases C-411/10 and C-493/10.


Top of the page Documents in the Case
Document Date Name of the parties Subject-matter Curia EUR-Lex Autres Liens
Judgment (OJ)
03/02/2012 N. S. and Others
Judgment
ECLI:EU:C:2011:865
21/12/2011 N. S. and Others
Judgment (Summary)
ECLI:EU:C:2011:865
21/12/2011 N. S. and Others
Order
ECLI:EU:C:2011:308
16/05/2011 N. S. and Others
Order
ECLI:EU:C:2010:666
09/11/2010 N. S. and Others
Application (OJ)
09/10/2010 N. S. and Others
Order
ECLI:EU:C:2010:575
01/10/2010 N. S. and Others
Opinion
ECLI:EU:C:2011:611
22/09/2011 N. S. and Others
Top of the page Legal analysis of the decision or of the case

Reports of Cases

2011 I-13905

Subject-matter

Reference for a preliminary ruling – Court of Appeal (England and Wales) (United Kingdom) – Interpretation of Article 3(1) and (2), and the provisions of Chapter III, of 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 (OJ 2003 L 50, p. 1) – Interpretation of the minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers, as set out in the provisions of Council Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003 laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers (OJ 2003 L 31, p. 18), Council Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004 on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third-country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted (OJ 2004 L 304, p. 12), and Council Directive 2005/85/EC of 1 December 2005 on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status (OJ 2005 L 326, p. 13) – Procedure for determining the Member State responsible for dealing with an asylum application submitted by an Afghan national – Risk that fundamental rights may be breached if responsibility is take up again by the Member State which was previously responsible – Nature and scope of the protection conferred on an asylum seeker by the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

Systematic classification scheme

1.
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.02 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
      1.04.02.01 Field of application of the Charter (Article 51(1) and (2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights)
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.06 Area of freedom, security and justice
    4.06.01 Border checks, asylum and immigration
      4.06.01.03 Asylum policy
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.18 Right to asylum
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.06 Area of freedom, security and justice
    4.06.01 Border checks, asylum and immigration
      4.06.01.03 Asylum policy
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.04 Prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.06 Area of freedom, security and justice
    4.06.01 Border checks, asylum and immigration
      4.06.01.03 Asylum policy
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.02 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
      1.04.02.00 General
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.06 Area of freedom, security and justice
    4.06.01 Border checks, asylum and immigration
      4.06.01.03 Asylum policy


Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

Operative part

Opinion


Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

  • 18/08/2010

Date of the Opinion

  • 22/09/2011

  • 22/09/2011

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

21/12/2011


References

Publication in the Official Journal

Applications: OJ C 274 from 09.10.2010, p.21 ; OJ C 13 from 15.01.2011, p.18

Judgment: OJ C 49 from 18.02.2012, p.8

Name of the parties

N. S. and Others

Notes on Academic Writings

  1. Russo, Marina: Principi, obiettivi e missioni dei Trattati; Diritti dell'uomo; Visti, asilo, Rassegna dell'avvocatura dello Stato 2011 IV Sez. II p.53-67 (IT)
  2. Zwaan, Karin: Rechtspraak Vreemdelingen recht (Ed. Ars Aequi Libri - Nijmegen) 2011 p.143 (NL)
  3. Akrivopoulou, Christina M. ; Papandreaou, Marios: Ta themeliodi dikaiomata tou aitounta politiko asilo kata tin ESDA kai to «machito» tekmirio tis «asfalous» choras (kanonismos Douvlino II) - Me aforrmi tis apofaseis EDDA, M.S.S. kata Velgiou kai Elladas (No. 30696/09, 21 Iannouariou 2011) kai DEE C-411/10 kai C-493/10 (21 Dekemvriou 2011), To Syntagma 2011 p.589-614 (EL)
  4. Vatovec, Katarina: Na poti k prenovi Dublinske uredbe, Pravna praksa 2012 nº 2 p.27-28 (SL)
  5. Weiß, Wolfgang: Grundrechtsschutz in der EU: Quo vadis?, Europäische Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsrecht 2012 p.201-202 (DE)
  6. Aubert, Michel ; Broussy, Emmanuelle ; Donnat, Francis: Chronique de jurisprudence de la CJUE. Asile, confiance mutuelle entre Etats membres et droits fondamentaux, L'actualité juridique ; droit administratif 2012 p.309-310 (FR)
  7. Gazin, Fabienne: Du bon emploi du règlement « Dublin II » sur la détermination de l'État européen responsable d'une demande d'asile : quand l'affaire NS du 21 décembre 2011 remet à l'honneur les valeurs européennes essentielles..., Europe Mai Études nº 3 p.9-12 2012 (FR)
  8. Buckley, Joanna: NS v Secretary of State for the Home Department (C-411/10), European Human Rights Law Review 2012 p. 208-210 (EN)
  9. Morgese, Giuseppe: Regolamento Dublino II e applicazione del principio di mutua fiducia tra Stati membri: la pronunzia della Corte di giustizia nel caso N.S. e altri, Studi sull'integrazione europea 2012 nº 1 p.147-162 (IT)
  10. Marx, Reinhard: Solidarität im grundrechtskonformen europäischen Asylsystem, Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht 2012 p.409-413 (DE)
  11. Battjes, H.: Pas de deux. De wisselwerking tussen Luxemburgse en Straatsburgse jurisprudentie bij de harmonisatie van het asielrecht, Nederlands tijdschrift voor Europees recht 2012 p.83-93 (NL)
  12. Costello, Cathryn: Dublin-case NS/ME: Finally, an end to blind trust across the EU?, Asiel en Migrantenrecht 2012 p.83-92 (EN)
  13. Mattera, Alfonso: Droits fondamentaux, principes et valeurs de l'Union européenne, Revue du droit de l'Union européenne 2012 nº 1 p.121-134 (FR)
  14. Lieven, Sophie: Case Report on C-411/10, N.S. and C-493/10, M.E. and Others, 21 December 2011, European Journal of Migration and Law 2012 Vol.2 p.223-238 (EN)
  15. Römer, Lutz: Verordnung, unwiderlegbare Vermutung der grundrechtskonformen Behandlung, Verbot der unmenschlichen und erniedrigenden Behandlung, Anwendbarkeit der Charta der Grundrechte der Europäischen Union auf das Vereinigte Königreich Großbritannien EZAR NF 65 Nr. 8, Zeitschrift für Ausländerrecht und Ausländerpolitik 2012 p.120-121 (DE)
  16. Bank, Roland ; Hruschka, Constantin: Die EuGH-Entscheidung zu Überstellungen nach Griechenland und ihre Folgen für Dublin-Verfahren (nicht nur) in Deutschland, Zeitschrift für Ausländerrecht und Ausländerpolitik 2012 p.182-188 (DE)
  17. Den Heijer, Maarten: Common Market Law Review 2012 p.1735-1753 (EN)
  18. Grasso, Luigi: Rispetto dei diritti fondamentali di richiedenti asilo ed operatività della sovereignty clause del regolamento Dublino II, Diritto pubblico comparato ed europeo 2012 p.733-739 (IT)
  19. Mellon, Gráinne: The Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Dublin Convention: An Analysis of N.S. v. Secretary of State for the Home Department (C-411/10), European Public Law 2012 p.655-663 (EN)
  20. Huber, Bertold: Das Urteil des EuGH vom 21.12.2011 zur grundrechtskonformen Anwendung der Dublin II-Verordnung, Informationsbrief Ausländerrecht 2012 p.376-380 (DE)
  21. Laffranque, Julia: Who has the Last Word on the Protection of Human Rights in Europe?, Juridica International: Law Review University of Tartu 2012 nº XIX p.117-134 (EN)
  22. Reneman, Marcelle: Het EU Dublinsysteem op losse schroeven. Geen Dublinoverdracht toegestaan naar lidstaat waar schending artikel 4 Handvest dreigt, Nederlands tijdschrift voor de mensenrechten ; NJCM bulletin 2012 p.555-562 (NL)
  23. Fatourou, Christina D.: Dikaiomata tou Anthropou 2012 p.824-828 (EL)
  24. Brodier, Hélène: L'Europe des libertés: revue d'actualité juridique 2012 nº 37 p.19-22 (FR)
  25. Brandl, Ulrike: Der EuGH beurteilt die Frage der verpflichtenden Ausübung des Selbsteintrittsrechts nach Art 3 Abs 2 Dublin II-VO, Fremden- und asylrechtliche Blätter - FABL 2012 n° 1 p.6-10 (DE)
  26. Pölzl, Bernhard: Die nicht unwiderlegbare Vermutung der Beachtung der Grundrechte von Asylwerbern durch die Mitgliedstaaten, Fremden- und asylrechtliche Blätter - FABL 2012 n° 1 p.11-13 (DE)
  27. García Andrade, Paula: La responsabilidad de examinar una solicitud de asilo en la UE y el respeto de los derechos fundamentales: comentario a la Sentencia del TJUE de 21 de diciembre de 2011 en los asuntos N.S. y M.E y otros, Revista General de Derecho Europeo 2012, nº 27, p. 1-34 (ES)
  28. Van den Sanden, Tina: The Columbia Journal of European Law 2013 p.143-174 (EN)
  29. Canor, Iris: - Solange horizontal - Der Schutz der EU-Grundrechte zwischen Mitgliedstaaten, Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht 2013 p.249-294 (DE)
  30. Deák, Beáta: Az Európai Bíróság ítélete az EUEU Alapjogi Karta alkalmazásáról - A kölcsönös bizalom megdönthető vélelme, Jogesetek Magyarázata 2013 nº 1 p.53-61 (HU)
  31. Lübbe, Anna: „Systemische Mängel“ in Dublin-Verfahren, Zeitschrift für Ausländerrecht und Ausländerpolitik 2014 p.105-111 (DE)
  32. Carlier, Jean-Yves: Droit européen des migrations, Journal de droit européen 2014 nº 207 p.105-114 (FR)
  33. Zagorc, Saša: Preselitve in premestitve beguncev: prevroč kostanj za Evropo?, Podjetje in delo 2016 nº 6-7 p.1147-1157 (SL)
  34. Delzangles, Béatrice ; Louvaris, Antoine: Visas humanitaires et Charte des droits fondamentaux : la confrontation n'a pas eu lieu, Journal de droit européen 2017 nº 239 p.170-176 (FR)
  35. Carlier, Jean-Yves ; Leboeuf, Luc: Droit européen des migrations, Journal de droit européen 2018 p.95-110 (FR)
  36. Barbé, Vanessa: Après l'arrêt Miller de la Cour suprême britannique du 24 janvier 2017 : du European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act au Great Repeal Bill, Europe 2018 Mois Comm. nº 2 p.17-19 (FR)
  37. Dumas, Perrine: Les concepts de " pays sûrs " en droit européen de l'asile, Journal de droit européen 2018 nº 248 p.132-134 (FR)
  38. Ciliberto, Julia: Intra-EU BITs' Arbitration Clause and EU Law: the Countdown for the CJEU's Final Say, Diritto del commercio internazionale 2018 p.217-238 (EN, IT)



Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division) - United Kingdom

Subject-matter

  • Principles, objectives and tasks of the Treaties
  • Fundamental rights
  • - Charter of Fundamental Rights
  • area of freedom, security and justice
  • - asylum policy

Provisions of national law referred to

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, section 77, 82 et 92 (4)

Provisions of international law referred to

Convention européenne de sauvegarde des Droits de l'Homme et des Libertés fondamentales (04/11/1950), art. 3 Convention de Genève relative au statut des réfugiés (28/07/1951)

Procedure and result

  • Reference for a preliminary ruling

Formation of the Court

grande chambre (Cour)

Judge-Rapporteur

Rosas

Advocate General

Trstenjak

Trstenjak

Language(s) of the Case

  • English

Language(s) of the Opinion

  • German