Brussels, 09/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 8 October, French Green MEP Hélène Flautre, backed by several colleagues, launched an initiative to urge the French and British governments “to abandon plans for joint charter flights to Afghanistan”. “These flights must not leave either tomorrow or at a later date,” MEPs write in a joint letter. “Afghanistan is a country at war. It is not acceptable to send back those who have fled in search of protection in Europe,” the 30 or so parliamentarians from the S&D, Greens/EFA, ALDE and GUE/NGL groups, go on. “By putting the lives of these refugees at serious risk, France and the United Kingdom are flouting their international commitments on human rights,” they add. MEPs said that asylum law had to be made effective in Europe as a matter of urgency so that any refugee can ask for protection in the country of his/her choice. They also called for the suspension of the so-called Dublin regulation. The call was addressed in particular to the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and French Immigration Minister Eric Besson. Besson said this week that several planes would be chartered to take illegal Afghan immigrants from France and the UK back to Kabul. He said that the flights would take place “subject to a number of conditions: to our being certain that the people will be safe on arrival in Kabul, and, secondly, that there is the possibility of their receiving some aid to re-settle”. The European Commission does not wish to comment on the charters. It said on Wednesday 7 October that is was not for it to comment on this still hypothetical action. “The removal of illegal immigrants is a matter solely for national legislation. The only rules that exist are a number of conditions set by the 'Returns' directive, and it is up to member states to ensure that these guarantees are respected,” said Michele Circone, spokesman for Commissioner Barrot. On Afghanistan's being a country at war, he put the ball back in the member states' court. “There hasn't been a European agreement on a list of safe countries. There is, therefore, no European rule in this area.” (B.C./transl.rt)