Violation of refugee human rights across the EU

2.54.17pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 4th Feb 2005

Growing concerns for human rights abuses affecting refugee claimants across the EU exist among international human rights watch dogs and Euro-MPs.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, London MEP and European justice spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats said:

"I am deeply worried that Amnesty International has had to address an open letter to EU justice Ministers and European Commission drawing attention to alarming developments concerning asylum seekers in the EU."

"It is abhorrent and unacceptable that reports include Maltese armed forces subjecting asylum seekers to physical abuse for peaceful protest, and Greek police officers torturing adults and minors for information."

Sarah Ludford has co-signed a European Parliament Question to the Commission on the Italian deportation of around 1,500 people from the island of Lampedusa to Libya last October, which appears a clear breach of Italy's international human rights obligations.

"I am not satisfied with a previous Commission reply that Italy's national law is the benchmark to determine whether it is committing human rights abuses. Respect for the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Refugee Convention are now part of EU law, so any breach of them is an EU matter."

She added: "I am also worried about the deteriorating climate in Britain concerning hostility to refugees. We must ensure that throughout the EU we respect the right to seek asylum."