It is appropriate that a clear and workable method for determining the Member State responsible for the examination of an application for international protection is included in the Common European Asylum System as set out by the European Council at its special meeting in Tampere on 15 and 16 October 1999. That method should be based on objective, fair criteria both for the Member States and for the persons concerned. It should, in particular, make it possible to determine rapidly the Member State responsible, so as to guarantee swift and effective access to fair and efficient procedures for granting international protection and not to compromise the objective of the rapid processing of applications for international protection.