Brussels, 03/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - Socialist MEP Martine Roure, of France, expressed criticism on Tuesday 1 July of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, slamming his ignorance of European instruments on immigration and asylum. The day before, the president had presented on television his priorities for the next 6 months including the proposal for a European Pact on immigration and asylum. He had first of all stressed that a political refugee can present 27 dossiers in 27 countries, receive 26 refusals and one acceptance, saying that the “no” from one country should be valid for the others and that the “yes” from a country should also be valid for the others. In reaction to this, Ms Roure commented: “Mr Sarkozy thinks a refugee can make 27 requests for asylum in 27 countries of the European Union. It is impossible! The Dublin II regulation determines the member states responsible for the asylum request. If a person makes a second application for asylum in another member state it will be transferred to the first member state which, alone, is responsible for processing it”. The president had also paid tribute to the European, Parliament which “has voted a directive calling on member states to return to their country of origin those who do not have papers”. Ms Roure went on to specify that this would not make it an obligation for Great Britain to impose a maximum limit of detention as this country, like Ireland and Denmark, does not take part in this instrument. (B.C./transl.jl)