Common Asylum System for an Enlarged European Union

3.24.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 29th Apr 2004

European Union home affairs ministers are expected tomorrow to agree on ways to assess asylum claims. While this 'Procedures Directive' would finally put in place the last bit of the jigsaw for a common European asylum system by the May 1st 2004 deadline set 7 years ago, it will represent a lowering of standards of protection for refugees.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, London MEP and Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman said:

"The EU needs common asylum rules so that countries share responsibility while upholding international protection standards. But EU governments have not only stalled and delayed, they have also only reached agreement by going for the lowest common denominator."

In particular - and led by the UK - ministers will agree to allow Member States to reject asylum-seekers when they can be removed to a 'safe third country'.

Sarah Ludford commented:

"This is related to the Blair-Blunkett idea of shipping many asylum-seekers off to places like Tanzania, Ukraine and Albania. If this is done as they propose, without considering whether that country is safe for the particular applicant or allowing a court to pronounce, it risks breaching international law. Shifting responsibility to third countries is unacceptable."

Note: Rules so far agreed cover reception of asylum seekers, establishing which country is responsible for examining an asylum claim and the definition of who is refugee. The 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam and the justice & home affairs action plan decided at Tampere summit in 1999 made a commitment to a May 1st 2004 deadline for a common asylum policy.

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