UNHCR welcomes EU asylum safeguards

The UN refugee agency has welcomed proposals made by the European Commission that recognise that asylum must be a key part of any measures to control migration, including along Europe's southern borders.

The EU proposals, published on Thursday, respond to calls from member states for measures to strengthen their capacity to prevent and manage what they describe as "migration crisis situations."

The EC also issued a further communication entitled The Global Approach To Migration, One Year On. The paper, which summarises progress this year in EU efforts to deal with migration challenges, also highlights the vital need for the EU to maintain asylum and protection as major elements in its collaboration with third countries on migration.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres welcomed the Commission's recognition that asylum must be an important feature of the EU's border and migration management strategies.

"Fortifying borders alone is not the answer to Europe's migration challenges," Mr Guterres said. "Effective migration management must also include safeguards for the many people in need of international protection who arrive at EU borders."

He also noted that refugee protection concerns do not apply to the Mediterranean coast alone.

"Protection challenges arise at the EU's other frontiers, particularly to the east; new strategies and tools must respond also to needs along those external borders," he said.