Asylum seekers waiting for a decision on their application in the European Union must be provided with certain necessities that guarantee them a dignified standard of living according to the EU Reception Conditions Directive that set minimum standards that Member States should respect.
In the past (and present), diverging practices among Member States however led to an inadequate level of material reception conditions for asylum seekers. The Reception Conditions Directive establishes for this reason- and in order to create a level playing field within the EU- common standards of conditions of living of asylum applicants. The previous version of the Directive is still valid until 21 July 2015 when a new one (recast) becomes applicable. It ensures (in legal theory at least) that applicants should have access to housing, food, health care and employment, as well as medical and psychological care.
Article 15 of the Reception Conditions Directive (recast) grants the right to work to asylum seekers but allows for the restriction of this right by EU Member States (who remain free to adopt more favourable standards nevertheless as the Directive only sets minimum standards). EU Member States must transpose the disposals contained in the Reception Conditions Directive (recast) within their legal order by July 2015.
Article 15 of the Reception Conditions Directive (recast) states that:
