Brussels, 28/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - Chaired by French Justice Minister Elisabeth Guigou Thursday morning, the Union's Home Affairs Ministers managed, to the great satisfaction of French Minister Daniel Vaillant and Commissioner Antonio Vitorino, to agree on the creation of a European Fund for Refugees; in addition, the Fifteen took the decision to extend the powers of Europol to money laundering. Congratulating the French Presidency for its success in breaking the deadlock over the European Fund for Refugees (EFR) and stressing that this result would allow for credits to be developed in the framework of the budgetary exercise 2000 (which had been "quite unthinkable"), Antonio Vitorino said that the EFR would constitute a "still modest financial instruments", but that it would mark the "beginning of a work of solidarity between Member states" regarding the hosting of refugees and other displaced persons. EUROPE recalls that the Fund's budget id 216 million euro over a five year period, stretching from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004. The consensus was based on the following elements:
- Proportion of the Fund's overall budget allocated to emergency measures. Acting through unanimity on the basis of a Commission proposal, the Council could authorize the EFR to fund these types of measures to the benefit of one or several or a group of Member states, in case of sudden and massive influx of refugees or displaced persons, or should it prove necessary to evacuate them from a third country, notably following an appeal launched by international bodies. Decisions will be taken on the basis of conditions listed in the directive relating to temporary protection, once the latter takes effect. EUROPE recalls that eligible emergency measures are: a) taking in and housing; b) provision of the means of subsistence, food and clothing included;; c) medical, psychological or other types of assistance; d) personal and administrative costs incurred by taking people in and implementing the measures; e) logistical and transport costs;
- Key-distribution of resources between Member States. From 2000 to 2004, each Member State will receive an annual allocation from the Fund, with the following set sums: in 2000: 500,000 euro; 2001: 400,000 euro; 2002: 300,000 euro; 2003: 200,000 euro; 2004: 100,000 euro. The remainder of available resources of the Fund's annual budget will be distributed between Member States proportionally to: a) the number of recorded people assisted over the three previous years, for 65% of the volume; b) the number of third country nationals or stateless people admitted as refugees under the Geneva Convention or benefiting from a form of international protection granted by a Member State in accordance with its national legislation or practices over the three previous years, for 35% of the volume.
In addition, ministers reached the following results:
- Visa obligation and exemption for third country nationals. The Council had an exchange of views on questions in suspense regarding the draft Regulation that will split third countries into two lists, one "positive" (no visa obligation), the other "negative". A the end of the debate, the Presidency noted a large degree of convergence on the fate of Bulgaria and Romania, on the one hand, Macao and Hong Kong, on the other. The Committee of Permanent Representatives was instructed to review the draft Regulation in the light of the guidelines reached by ministers; this adaptation will require further consultation with the EP. The Presidency's draft compromise itself rests, regarding Bulgaria and Romania on a Dutch draft compromise suggesting that these two applicant countries for membership be included on the positive list but that the abolition of the visa obligation not be applied to their nationals before certain conditions are met. The Fifteen would work at drawing up a catalogue of these conditions: EUROPE has reason to believe that, among other things, these concern passports, strengthened border controls as well as police cooperation. During the debate, one Member State asked that Slovakia be treated in the same manner, others showed reluctance on this issue. Regarding Hong Kong and Macao, their inclusion on the positive list - which should be accompanied with prior-readmission agreements - came up against clear reluctance by France, backed by Germany and the Netherlands. The guidelines that emerged on these two are much less clear. Concluding, Mr. Vaillant nevertheless expressed his hope of reaching concrete results on this draft Regulation "by the end of the Presidency".
- Minimum standards regarding asylum procedures. Mr. Vitorino presented the Directive that the Commission has just submitted, "less than a year", the Commissioner stressed, following the European Council of Tampere had requested it act in this way. He welcomed the fact that this draft, first concrete instrument and essential part of a European asylum system", had been well received. …/..
- Condition for the welcoming of asylum seekers. The Fifteen had a guideline debate on the basis of a document from the French Presidency which, according to Mr Vitorino, was "very well drafted and asks good questions, notably those of access to employment". After the "good discussion", the Commission intends to present a draft Directive on the issues "at the start of next year".
