Brussels, 14/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is calling on the EU to protect the rights of asylum seekers and refugees in the management of immigration and border control. On 8 July 2008, a spokesperson for the UNHCR in Geneva, Jennifer Pagonis, said the UNHCR was drawing attention to the 'need to develop practical and reliable ways to safeguard the rights of asylum seekers and refugees in the context of migration management and border control. A 'Europe of Asylum' cannot be built without assurances of access to the European Union for persons seeking protection.' She added that the UNHCR 'urged the EU, under the French Presidency, to take up the challenge of improving the quality of asylum decisions-making across the EU… and would like to see further steps taken to increase the participation of EU member states in worldwide refugee resettlement efforts. At present, a small number of the 27 member states have regular resettlement programmes, and the EU provides only around five percent of places available worldwide for refugee resettlement.' (B.C. /trans/fl)