Brussels, 24/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 23 April, the European Parliament (EP) adopted by 587 votes to 42 and 31 abstentions the report by Martine Roure (PES, France) which provides for extension of the 2003 directive conferring long-term residency status on beneficiaries of international protection. “We hope this instrument will apply, as an imperative, not only to refugees but also to those receiving subsidiary protection”, the rapporteur said, although several countries do not want the amended proposal for a directive (unanimity) to apply to this second category (EUROPE 9648). The states had originally hoped to exclude from the scope of the directive all persons receiving international protection (refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection), due to the precariousness or shortness of their stay. The Council and the Commission hoped to put this anomaly right. Supporting the proposal, MEPs wanted the specific situation of those under international protection to be recognised for acquisition of long term residency status. They therefore advocated that the requirement of a stable income for obtaining the status should not apply to beneficiaries of international protection as the latter do not have access to employment. The EP also calls for national integration conditions, such as the necessity to know the language of the host member state, only to be applied to beneficiaries of international protection on a case-by-case basis. (B.C.)