Brussels, 30/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - While the European Day for the Resettlement of Refugees was taking place on Wednesday 30 March, the Emmaus Europe organisation published an open letter on the right of asylum in the EU and put forward a number of recommendations on the Commission's “Asylum Package”. This package contains legislative proposals for putting in place a genuine common asylum system in 2012, as well as a single international protection statute.
In its letter, Emmaus points out that the current “process of harmonising national asylum policies is inadequate as it does not create a European asylum system that truly protects asylum seekers”. The letter also underlines that “asylum seekers are fleeing persecution and want to live freely and with dignity. That being the case, it is for the EU to take in people who are being persecuted or who are under threat in their home countries, in accordance with the 1951 Geneva Convention”.
In its recommendations, the organisation first of all demands that the notion of “the right of asylum” be protected. Emmaus says this is being replaced by “international protection” in Directive 2004/83/EC. This change waters down refugee status into the less protective status of “subsidiary protection”. The organisation says that it considers it essential “to preserve the notion of the 'right of asylum'; which constitutes an exemption from the migration policies of the states”.
With regard to the conditions governing the reception of asylum seekers, the “reception” directive 2003/9/EC sets out minimum standards for receiving asylum seekers. Emmaus considers that this directive leaves member states with too great a margin for determining these conditions and that the conditions are far from being harmonised. It highlights the major disparities between states and in this connection highlights the right to freedom of movement whilst awaiting examination of a request for asylum, and respect for asylum seekers' family unity. Emmaus also consider that asylum seekers should be granted effective access to housing, healthcare and employment in all member states, in addition to effective access to education for minors. The organisation considers that detention centres should not be used systematically.
Emmaus demands the allocation of sufficient funding to ensure the reception of asylum seekers in conditions that respect the integrity of human beings. This financial support is urgent due to the massive influx of migrants. It has risen to €25 million but is proving insufficient and even “derisory”. Emmaus calls on the EU27 to reach an agreement on the improved distribution of refugees between member states. It considers that this agreement should be based on the initiatives of the European Asylum Support Bureau and in agreement with the choices made by asylum seekers. In the context of Dublin II and the designation of the state responsible for examining asylum requests, a system currently unfair to candidates because it depends on where the requests are processed, Emmaus calls for the introduction of a sole criterion to designate the state responsible for examining requests - namely, that this should be the choice of the asylum seeker. The organisation wants an end to sending asylum seekers back to a state where reception conditions produce inhumane or degrading treatment. It wants to ensure that non-accompanied minors receive treatment specific to their needs.
On Wednesday, in a press release; two MEPs from the EPP Group, Simon Busuttil and Salvatore Iacolino, called on the Commission to activate the directive on temporary protection in the event of massive influxes of migrants on the island of Lampedusa, particularly those coming from Libya. If this directive is activated and approved by the Council, it would provide a concrete basis for European solidarity and distributing refugees among the different member states. The two MEPs are also planning on introducing an oral question to the Commission on the subject of the “exceptional” situation in southern European countries, such as Italy and Malta. They will pose this question at next week's plenary session. (S.P./transl.fl)