Strasbourg, 24/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has rejected Austria's proposal to draw up a list of safe countries to which asylum seekers can be sent back if they are a national of this country, or have transited it. Following the opinion of its rapporteur, Olle Schmidt (ELDR, Sweden), the plenary decided on Tuesday to ask Austria to withdraw its proposal. As the European Parliament only has a consultative opinion on this matter, its request does not commit the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The European Parliament would like the issue to be resolved by the directive on procedures for granting refugee status, still on the table in Council.
Many Member States share the Parliament's view on including this list in the directive on asylum procedure. France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy, in particular, made this request at the last formal Justice and Home Affairs Council (EUROPE of 6 June).