EUROPE: TAMPERE SUMMIT: EU ASYLUM POLICY MUST BE PROTECTIVE
From: amnesty@amnesty.oil.ca
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 04:02:16 -0400
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
7 October 1999
TAMPERE SUMMIT: EU ASYLUM POLICY MUST BE PROTECTIVE
The special EU summit on justice and home affairs following the
Amsterdam Treaty's entry into force must result in a re-opening of the
EU's doors to those seeking protection from persecution. "The message
Amnesty International expects from Heads of States and Governments
meeting in Tampere is that the EU will comply with its commitment to the
Geneva Convention and International Human Rights Laws and grant full
protection to refugees", Brigitte Ernst de la Graete, Director of AI 's
EU Assocation said.
"In the new framework of the Amsterdam Treaty, the Tampere summit offers
a unique opportunity for a turn-around towards the respect for
international standards in the future EU asylum policy." Yet, there is a
serious risk that Heads of States and Governments will simply confirm
years of increasing control and a de facto lock-out policy.
Full Protection
"Amnesty International notices an increasing gap between the EU
governments' rhetoric on asylum issues and reality. While they keep
paying lip-service to upholding their international obligations to
refugee protection, facts demonstrate the opposite." National
governments have implemented measures aimed at preventing legitimate
refugees seeking asylum from persecution from reaching Europe and, once
in the EU, from obtaining full refugee status with full rights.
International Solidarity
Over the last decade, the trend has been on a closed-doors attitude,
aimed at protecting "Fortress Europe" when the numbers of asylum seekers
reaching the EU is minimal. In 1998, less than 30.000 were granted
asylum in EU member states. The EU hosted 16 percent of the world's 16,5
million refugees and displaced persons last year, and even when crisises
arise in Europ, the EU is not faced with massive influxes, as recently
domenstrated by the Kosovo crisis. Of the 880.000 displaced in the
region, some 100.000 applied for asylum outside the region and 75.400 of
them returned to Kosovo after agreement was reached between NATO and
Yugoslavia.
"Instead of argueing about the sharing of the so-called burden of asylum
seekers and displaced persons, the 15 member states, which are among the
wealthiest countries in the world, should show their solidarity with
poorer regions hosting the overwhelming majority of refugees and
displaced persons." It must be ensured that already scarce resources for
Amnesty International is an independent worldwide movement working for
the release of all prisoners of conscience, fair and prompt trials for
political prisoners and an end to torture, extrajudicial executions,
"disappearances" and the death penalty. It is funded by donations from
its members and supporters throughout the world. It has formal relations
with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the Organization
of African Unity and the Organization of American States. programmes
urgently needed in regions where asylum problems are acute are not
detracted to prevent refugees from reaching EU territory.
Tackling Human Rights Violations
Amnesty International shares the view that a comprehensive approach to
asylum issues is needed. "EU governments focus on control and do not
adress the source of refugee flows, which is the disrespect for human
rights in the countries of origin." However, the recently presented
action plans of the EU High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration
fall short of its initial goal to consider the need to improve respect
for human rights and the socio-economic situation in countries where
asylum seekers come from. The measures proposed are mostly devoted to
prevent migration into the EU, such as the incease in the effectiveness
of airline liason officers in implementing the EU's visa regime in
countries of origin, the fight against forged documents, the design of
readmission agreements (agreements on the obligation of third countries
to take back people entering on an irregular manner without the
necessary authorization).
"The implementation of these measures ignores the specific needs of
people seeking protection. Asylum and protections measures for those who
flee human rights abuses cannot be subordinated to migration control."
Amnesty International stresses that the accent should be on protecting
and not preventing refugees coming to Europe.
For further information or to arrange for an interview, please contact:
María-Teresa Gil-Bazo, Executive Officer for Asylum Issues
Gabriele Juen, Executive Officer
Amnesty International EU Association
T + 32/2/502 1499, F +32/2/502 56 86
ENDS.../
Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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