CoE committee calls for review of detention centres

The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today called on European governments to put forward minimum standards of reception to be guaranteed by all countries of destination of "boat people" and to share the responsibility of receiving them.

In a report prepared by Morten Østergaard (Denmark), the committee recalled that in 2007 alone, over 51 000 persons arrived on the coasts of Italy, Spain, Greece and Malta.

The parliamentarians expressed concern that "search and rescue obligations are not always being complied with, leading to increased risk to life and loss of life". The committee said it was also concerned with the detention conditions once the migrants arrived in Europe.

"Excessive periods of detention, cramped and unsuitable accommodation with poor sanitation, lack of contact with the outside world, inadequate legal assistance and few, if any, recreational activities are all problems which need to be addressed," it said in a draft resolution.

According to the report, "detention facilities in Malta and Greece are in particular need of review", while there are "worrying reports" concerning the treatment of unaccompanied minors in Spain, Greece and other countries in the region.

Detention facilities in Turkey need to be examined further, including by the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT), and Turkey should "withdraw the geographical limitation for non-European asylum seekers", the committee added.

The adopted draft text puts forward minimum standards of reception to be guaranteed by all countries of destination. It calls for the international community, including all member states, the European Union and its border agency Frontex, to help share the responsibility of receiving these "boat people". The committee also puts forward a number of proposals to continue to monitor closely the conditions in detention and reception facilities. The report is due to be debated by the Assembly in plenary session during its Autumn session.