A report adopted today (Tuesday 22nd October) by a clear majority
of Euro MPs puts pressure on governments to ensure that all asylum migrants in
need of international protection are welcomed to EU countries. MEP Jean Lambert
(Green Party, London), who drew up the proposals for the Parliament's Civil Liberties
Committee, said: "I am delighted that Parliament has adopted this position,
which demonstrates that Europe's traditional commitment to humanitarianism and
the spirit of international human rights law remains as strong as ever."
The European Parliament is adamant that the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees should be interpreted broadly as originally intended, so that all those in need of help will be granted protection. The Convention is the basis of international refugee law and was drawn up in the light of the aftermath of the Second World War and the Cold War. It binds states to grant protection to refugees with a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of their race, nationality, political opinions or membership of a social group.
"Some EU countries have been flouting the spirit of the original agreement by claiming that the UN Convention only covers limited forms of persecution. But it is clear that women facing serious harm from their communities such as genital mutilation, or those at risk from non-State groups such as the FARC in Columbia, are just as needy as those falling into the traditional refugee category" said Mrs Lambert.
"Most EU states already have additional protection categories to cover people like this - such as the UK's 'Exceptional Leave to Remain' - the Parliament is sending a clear message that all EU countries must provide similar levels of protection, and that this obligation must be enshrined in a Common Asylum Policy".
Parliament's report on this proposal, which is described as the "lynchpin" of the forthcoming EU Common Asylum Policy by its author, says that the families of victims - including same-sex partners - should be able to join their relatives in their country where they are granted protection. Furthermore, countries should treat each applicant individually and take into account factors such as sex or sexual orientation which can be reasons for persecution.
The directive will now pass to the Council of Ministers for a final decision in the next few weeks. "Today's vote throws down the gauntlet to David Blunkett and his European counterparts: any attempt to water it down will be a rejection of both international law and the will of the European Parliament," Mrs Lambert added.
ENDS
For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280 or 0776 997 0691
Note to Editors
To arrange an interview with Mrs Lambert or for the full text of her speech or head and shoulder pictures in jpeg format please contact Ben Duncan on the above numbers.