Brussels, 20/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption by 303 votes to 201 and 21 abstentions of the report by British Liberal Democrat Graham Watson, the European Parliament significantly amended the proposal of Directive relating to minimum standards regarding the procedure for granting and withdrawing refugee status in Member States. To the great displeasure of the EPP-ED group, which tried in vain to have the plenary adopt amendments that had been rejected by the Committee on Citizens' Rights and Freedoms, the Parliament took a stance backed by a majority grouping the PES, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA and ELDR. The stance was in favour of a broad definition of persecution or threats that justify granting of asylum, respect of all the conventions that guarantee refugees' rights and/or human rights as well as the Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Parliament adopted almost all the 110 amendments presented to its relevant committee except that which recommended Member States abandon accelerated procedure allowing obviously unfounded requests to be easily rejected. The Parliament's amendments - the Parliament being only consulted in the matter - essentially aim to guarantee the rights of asylum seekers during the review procedure on their requests. They mainly concern: - legal assistance; - information for refugees; - the suspensive effect of appeal procedure; - the reduction of detention or custody possibilities (which can no longer be taken at borders but only on the territory of a country); - and the introduction of stricter criteria for determining "safe countries" in the case of expulsion.
During the debate, Mr Watson - who, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee on Freedoms, took up the report after the vote in committee as former Rapporteur Ingo Schmitt (CDU) had withdrawn his signature - insisted the procedure should be made fairer and effective protection of refugees guaranteed. Speaking on behalf of the EPP/ED Group, Mr Schmitt felt, however, that this report opened the road to an increased number of requests for asylum by reducing control possibilities. This stance was also defended by Johannes Blokland (EDD, NL) and French Non-Attached member Georges Berthu, while British Labour member Robert Evans, British Liberal Democrat Sarah Ludfor, British Green member Jean Lambert and Fodé Sylla (GUE/NGL) gave their groups' support to the report.
While pointing out that the European Commission shares the spirit of the Parliament's amendments, Commissioner Viviane Reding defended the initial balance of the proposal which "allows consolidation of the rights of asylum seekers", while strengthening the effectiveness and the speed of procedures. Considering that the Council may find it difficult to unanimously accept the Parliament's position, she said that the Commission will not be able to take "certain suggestions" made by the Parliament on board, as they would bring this balance and adoption of the Directive into question.