Since the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam in May 1999, important steps have been made towards the creation of a Common European Asylum System. Five pieces of EU legislation were adopted between 1999 and 2005. To further a higher degree of harmonisation and better standards of internationalprotection across the Union, the European Commission has presented proposals to amend four of the existing five pieces of legislation relating to asylum, namely the Dublin II Regulation, the Reception Conditions Directive, the Qualification Directive and the Asylum Procedures Directive. This report specifically relates to the Asylum Procedures Directive.