EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/400

(2004/C 78 E/0422)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2211/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Progress on asylum at Thessaloniki

Will the Commission please give its view on the progress made on the issue of asylum at the Thessaloniki Summit, particularly with regard to UK proposals to create ‘zones of protection’ to process asylum applications on or close to the borders of refugee producing countries?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2003)

The Commission regrets that the deadline (June 2003) for adoption of a Council Directive on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection (1), set out at the Seville European Council (21/22 June 2002), has not been met. Therefore, it welcomes the re-affirmation by the Thessaloniki European Council of its determination to ensure adoption, before the end of 2003, of this legislation. It also warmly welcomes the confirmation of the deadline for adoption before the end of 2003, of a Council Directive on asylum procedures.

The Commission fully shares the urgency expressed by Heads of State and Governments for the Union for finalising the first phase of the establishment of a Common European Asylum System. The Commission will co-operate with the Presidency and the Member States' delegations to ensure that the deadline is met. The Commission also notes that the Council and the Commission have been invited to examine the possibilities to further reinforce asylum procedures with a view to accelerating as much as possible the processing of non-international protection-related applications.

The Commission is pleased with the request to explore all parameters in order to ensure more orderly and managed entry in the Union of persons in need of international protection and to examine ways and means to enhance the protection capacity of regions of origin. A comprehensive report will be brought forward before June 2004 as invited by the European Council. To prepare this report, the Commission will draw on its March 2003 Communication on the common asylum policy and the Agenda for protection (2) and its June 2003 Communication: ‘Towards more accessible, equitable and managed asylum systems’ (3).

The Commission will also bear in mind conclusion No 11 of the conclusions on migration and development adopted by the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 19 May 2003, where it was invited to consider ways to strengthen the reception capacity of developing countries, taking account of both their financial and institutional capacities and of the fact that refugees can put considerable strain on their social and political structures, and to elaborate further on the use of development cooperation in the search of durable solutions for refugees, in voluntary return and reintegration as well as local integration, and to develop concrete proposals on how more aid could be directed towards assisting refugees in the region, while targeting poverty reduction in host communities. In doing so, the Commission will pay particular attention to the implementation of the UNHCR Agenda for Protection adopted in October 2002 with a view to strengthen and modernise international protection and focus on three priorities: access to protection, durable solutions and better responsibility sharing with third countries.

In its various Communications, the Commission has stated that a legal base was needed for the proper implementation of Budget line ‘Co-operation with Third Countries in the area of Migration (B7-667)’. The Commission has brought forward a proposal for a Regulation of the Parliament and the Council to that end which would establish a programme for financial and technical assistance to third countries in the area of migration and asylum (4). The Commission recommends the Parliament examine this proposal as soon as possible.

(1) OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002.

(2) COM(2003) 152 final.

(3) COM(2003) 315 final.

(4) COM(2003) 355 final.