Est. 2min 02-09-2004 (updated: 29-01-2010 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Many MEPs and human rights organisations are opposing the proposal to establish camps in North Africa where people seeking asylum in the EU would stay while their application is processed. Incoming European Commissioner for Liberty, Security and Justice, Rocco Buttiglione, is already actively proposing ideas for the common European immigration policy. In an interview with German weekly Die Welt, the Italian Commissioner indicated the possibility of widening the scope of the right to asylum. He suggested that asylum could be granted not only on political grounds but also on economical ones – if natural disasters or severe droughts make the areas where they live in uninhabitable. However, he does not want to set expectations too high for immigrants. “We need immigrants […] but we must retain control of our countries. Immigration cannot turn into occupation […] Europeans must hold on to the house keys”, he said. According to second-quarter statistics released by the UN refugee agency, the number of asylum-seekers in the 14 “old” EU countries fell by 20 percent compared to the same six-month period last year. But the six new EU states included saw an increase of 31 percent during the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 2003. Read more with Euractiv European prosecutor to help tackle large-scale transnational fraud The Commission has presented new plans to gear up the fight against fraud in the EU. A white paper on the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor will be presented in 2005. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters PositionsAmnesty International has criticised such proposals as being "unlawful and unworkable". Graham Watson, leader of the new ALDE group warned on 1 September that Buttiglione faces a "rocky ride" in confirmation hearings with the EU Parliament over proposals to keep asylum seekers in camps in Africa. Watson said the camps idea runs counter to the UN Geneva Convention on refugees. "We cannot shirk our responsibilities (set by) the conventions that all of our governments have signed," he told reporters. The Netherlands' Justice Minister Piet Donner told the EP's Civil Liberties Committee on 31 August that he has reserved judgement on the plan until it is translated into a concrete proposal. BackgroundLast week, Buttiglione gave his backing to a German proposal, initiated by the UK, aimed at housing asylum seekers in camps in north Africa while their applications were being processed (see EURACTIV, 24 August 2004 ). TimelineRocco Buttiglione's hearing by the EP committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs will take place between 27 September and 8 October. The proposal will be discussed by the interior ministers of the EU's five biggest countries - Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Britain - during a G5 meeting in October in Florence. Further ReadingEU official documents Commission DG JHAA single roof for asylum in the European Union CommissionCV of Rocco Buttiglione ParliamentHearings of the commissioners designate ParliamentQuestionnaire for the hearing of the commissioner-designate for policies relating to the area of freedom, security and justice EU Actors positions Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International's views on proposals for extra-territorial processing of asylum claims UNHCRIndustrialised countries hit lowest asylum numbers since 1987, says UNHCR Press articles Washington Times
