Brussels, 14/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 13 July, the association France terre d'asile strongly protested against the announcement made by Jacques Barrot, Immigration Commissioner, that he would propose the creation of places in Libya and Turkey where asylum seekers could be hosted (EUROPE 9941). This, Barrot said, would make it possible to differentiate between asylum seekers and economic migrants and would mean that they do not have to make a dangerous maritime crossing. “We well understand that this proposal is to the advantage of the European Union in that Turkey and Libya are the last stages on the migratory route before entering the Union for many refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa”, it is stated in a press release from France terre d'asile. The association takes the view that, behind any humanitarian justification for such a system, this would mean legitimisation of the concept of allowing requests for asylum to be processed outside the EU, an idea that emerged in Europe in 2004 under British pressure. “The solution proposed is unacceptable given our obligations with regard to international protection”, the association adds. Expulsion by the Italian authorities of over 500 migrants to Libya in early May without examining their possible need for protection was not only in breach of international and European law on refugees but also seems to have opened up a Pandora's box for which the consequences are not yet known, the association says. France terre d'asile therefore calls on the European Commission to take inspiration from the 10-point action plan from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR) on the protection of refugees and mixed migratory movements. “We know that the European states gave a very poor welcome to the proposals of harmonisation presented by the Commission, judging them to be often unrealistic. However, one does not resolve a difficulty by running away from it! The Europe of human rights must first of all exist on Union territory”, the press release states. (B.C./transl.jl)