EU commission proposes new asylum rules
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-02 10:23

The European Commission proposed new rules Thursday for the 25 European Union nations to establish common standards on immigration and asylum.

To take effect, the measures must be approved by the EU governments, who have been reluctant to replace national rules on immigration with European regulations. The EU says the common rules are needed to keep illegals from taking advantage of big differences in procedures to slip from one nation to another.

The package includes proposals on returning illegal immigrants to their homelands, guidelines for integrating new migrants and closer cooperation with non-EU nations in dealing with refugees and other migrants. The commission proposes new legislation on migration and asylum statistics.

"People staying illegally in the European Union must return to their country of origin," said Franco Frattini, EU commissioner for freedom, security and justice.

European Union Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini gestures during a media conference at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Thursday Sep.1, 2005. [AP]

Frattini said the proposals struck a balance between protecting the rights of migrants and asylum seekers and protecting EU nations against illegal immigration.

Many EU nations have adopted tighter asylum rules in recent years, often reacting to growing support for far-right, anti-immigration parties. The number of asylum applications in the EU has fallen from 425,000 in 2002 to 282,000 last year, according to U.N. data.

Britain was once considered a haven for asylum seekers, but last month's London terrorist bombings hardened the government's attitude toward foreigners seeking to live in Britain. Britain has faced criticism for plans to deport militants to countries with questionable human rights records.

Under Frattini's proposals, people whose request for asylum is turned down should be given time and help to voluntarily return home. For those forcibly deported, the EU will set common procedures on coercive measures.

In the past three years, the EU said, less than one quarter of failed asylum seekers agreed to leave voluntarily.

Concerned that legal migration to Europe was causing a brain drain from poorer nations, Frattini proposed limiting recruitment in countries suffering skill shortages and making it easier for migrants to send money home.

Close

Hurricane Katrina batters US Pakistani, Indian officials meet for peace Death toll of Baghdad bridge stampede nears 1,000

Today's Top News     Top World News
Tibet sees forty years of marked progress         New Orleans in anarchy with fights, rapes         Typhoon pounds Fujian, forcing evacuation         Foreign missile umbrella on Taiwan opposed         Video: Al-Qaida behind London blasts         Numerous pacts for EU-China summit	Official: Saddam's trial to begin in October       New Orleans in anarchy with fights, rapes       Video: Al-Qaida behind London blasts       South Korea: North's nuke plans not an issue       UN: West Africa cholera epidemic kills 500       Venezuela's Chavez offers Hurricane aid