Tuesday, 9th September 2008
UNHCR head says EU states should build a 'Europe of Asylum'
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres yesterday called on the 27 EU member states to carry on with their efforts to build a coherent and effective common asylum system.
Addressing a conference in Paris organised by the French presidency of the EU, Mr Guterres said a common asylum system could serve as an example for the entire world if it truly guarantees the protection of refugees.
"As an important global actor, the EU has a key role to play to meet the challenges of forced displacement in the world.
"A common European asylum system is an ambitious and unprecedented venture and a unique opportunity to strengthen refugee protection."
According to the UNHCR head, the EU must remain accessible to people seeking protection, noting that many people put themselves in the hands of human smugglers and traffickers because of the plethora of barriers to entry.
Mr Guterres pointed out the need to ensure quality in asylum decision-making and to correct the widespread disparities among member states. Although the EU is currently working on a plan to establish a common asylum system, many member states including Malta do not agree with the current asylum procedures regulated by the so-called Dublin II regulations.
According to these rules, asylum applications have to be dealt with by the member state where an application is first presented. Malta is pushing for a radical overhaul of this system as it places a heavy burden on countries that are on the periphery of the EU.
Malta is calling for the introduction of a burden-sharing mechanism under which all member states would share responsibility for asylum seekers applying to be given refugee status.
So far, Malta's suggestions have not been taken on board.
But speaking at the European Parliament last week European Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot hinted that the Commission is considering the suspension of its common asylum rules for over-burdened countries such as Malta.
Nearly all illegal immigrants arriving in Malta apply for asylum.
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Comments
ETC was set up in 1990 which means that it has been around in Malta for the past 18 years. Within those 18 years we have seen figures of unemployment fluctuating a million times. ETC always provided training to redundant persons and although it did work in certain instances, you still have a percentage of unemployed labourers both skilled and non-skilled.
Do you really expect ETC to be a solution for these illegal immigrants as well as the rest of us Maltese? On what basis are you standing ground? The way I see it, if these illegal immigrants are trained, they will look for jobs which are inexistent since certain sectors are already saturated and they will end up draining our resources for nothing.
On the other hand if you guarantee that after we train them we repatriate them to Africa than I’m all out for it. This way they can start a new life there, at their real home.
We do not care about the population deficit in Europe.
Europe should solve its problems itself and not shove them on us.
All we care is about the illegal immigrants coming to OUR country and the way that Malta is being made the scapegoat of EU legislation tripe.
As regards the training centre they should make one or more in the mainland European countries because if they make one here we will still continue to be invaded by ILLEGAL immigrants with their inherent problems and which the vast majority of Maltese citizens do not want either to remain here or worse to integrate within Maltese society
The illegal immigrants are unwanted and unwelcome by the vast majority of Maltese society.
What those who defend the illegal immigrants are doing is to precipitate a dangerous explosive situation which may blow up at any moment.
When it does explode, they must then bear all the consequences which such an explosion may bring about.
The Uk has just changed its immigration policy. No more immigration from outside the EU, not even skilled workers. It is a bit too late for the UK but perhaps, better late than never. An eyeopener for the other countries.
What Antonio Guterres should be doing is not placing buckets under a leaking roof but repairing the blasted roof! But then he would be out of a cushy well paid job.
Just this week, it was announced in the UK that plans for balanced migration are being discussed. 'Balanced Migration means that, over time, immigration should be brought substantially lower until it is close to the rate of emigration. This would stabilise the UKs population and greatly reduce the pressures on public services and society'. This statement is referring to LEGAL immigrants. The ILLEGAL ones are repatriated at the rate of 800 every day!
Taking in illegal immigrants is only encouraging more people to break the law and risk their lives to make the crossing from Africa to Europe. If , as you say, the EU needs to fill the population deficit, they should set up LEGAL routes for people to apply to the country they wish to emigrate to. That would prevent any more tragedies at sea.
You all have been complaining and bad-mouth every body, UN, UNHCR, EU, Church, NGO’s , Libya, Government, opposition, and above all, the immigrants them selves. Has any body suggested how the EU should fill the population deficit of old Europe?
Here, is what it seems to be only option:
The European Commission should provide adequate finance to the European Union countries (Mainly southern Countries) not only to feed or shelter the immigrant but also to create a training center ETC –style. This center is to provide training to semi and or un-skilled immigrants and may also provide opportunities (within) for some un employed Maltese. In my humble opinion this is how to turn a ‘problem’ into a good opportunity – I guess this is where the EU politicians heading anyway.
In our national interests we should renounce to the refugee convention because it is an outdated and extremely abused convention.
We should also renounce to any EU obligations unless they take ALL illegal immigrants to mainland europe.
If they don't like it too bad. They were and still are their colonizers, previously through military presence and presently through their multinationals.
Malta should wash her hands completely from UNHCR. Malta should not remain a party to this continuing carnage.
It is a known fact all over Europe that the vast majority are economic migrants, only a tiny percentage are genuine refugees, if there was proper repatriation system the numbers of economic migrants will start to subside thus enabling the genuine refugees to get the proper and necessary help and support much sooner than they presently do.
If they want to help them then they should put their money where their mouth is and take all the illegal immigrants that we have in Malta and any others that may arrive here.
Furthermore, UNHCR should stop the practice of exaggerating its responsibility by its promotion of so-called “mixed groups”. A mixed group is any number of migrants “some of whom may be refugees or asylum seekers” and therefore declared to be “of concern” to UNHCR. Out of a group of 1000 persons only one “may be” (or may not be) a genuine refugee, but still you see UNHCR officials and assorted do-gooders claiming responsibility.