EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 70/62

(2004/C 70 E/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1778/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Asylum seekers and refugees ‘audit’

In my constituency of London, the devolved government (the Greater London Authority) has undertaken an ‘audit’ of the skills of asylum seekers and refugees.

Has the Commission done any research or undertaken a similar ‘audit’ of the potential employability of refugees and asylum seekers in EU countries? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 2003)

The Union supports asylum seekers and refugees by reinforcing their human rights, setting out minimum standards for the reception of applicants for asylum and for the status of third country nationals as refugees, by creating more and better jobs through the European Employment Strategy and in particular by combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in connection with the labour market. The European Social Fund directly supports the employment strategy and support to asylum seekers and refugees is one of the priority themes of the Community Initiative EQUAL (1). Further projects may be funded at national level on the employability of refugees and asylum seekers under the reception and integration strands of the European Refugee Fund (2).

EQUAL explores the possibilities for facilitating asylum seekers' access to the labour market and/or for maintaining and improving their individual skills and competencies. In the London area there is an EQUAL development partnership managed by British Refugee Council (BRC), in partnership with the Basic Skills Agency amongst others.

The objective of this development partnership is to develop:

— Common objectives: — Skills audit: joint development and testing of methods for obtaining basic information regarding asylum seekers' education, skills and experience. — Documentation of opportunities and barriers for asylum seekers' social and vocational integration in the respective countries.

— Complementary objectives: — Improved methods and contents of information, advice and guidance (IAG) for asylum seekers. — Development of materials and strategy for a public awareness campaign primarily aimed at employers and trade unions, but also politicians and the general public. — Developing a medium for presenting the information obtained in the skills audit in a recognisable way.

In order to benefit from experience gained elsewhere, there is a transnational cooperation agreement in place with Dansk Røde Kors Asylafdeling (Denmark Local Integration) who have conducted skills audits for the Danish labour market).

The Commission has also undertaken studies with a view to preparing legislative measures on asylum and refugees in accordance with Article 63 of the EC Treaty and the Conclusions of the European Council at Tampere (15/16 October 1999). In particular, in order to prepare the proposal for a Council Directive laying down minimum standards for the reception of applicants for asylum in Member States (3), a study was finalised in November 2000 on the legal framework and administrative practices in the Member States regarding reception conditions for asylum seekers, displaced persons and other persons seeking international protection. The study contains information on the employment strategy towards asylum seekers in the Member States (4). Council Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003 laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers (5) has subsequently been adopted on 27 January 2003 and contains a provision on employment. Provisions on access to employment were also included in the Commission's proposal for 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 (6), underlining the Commission's interest for refugee skills and employability. The Council has still to finalise negotiations.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/equal/index_en.html

(2) Council Decision 2000/596/EC of 28 September 2000 establishing a European Refugee Fund, OJ L 252, 6.10.2000.

(3) OJ C 213 E, 31.7.2001.

(4) Europa — Justice and Home Affairs-Documentation centre — Reception of asylum seekers in the EU (http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/doc_centre/asylum/seekers/doc_asylum_seekers_en.htm).

(5) OJ L 31, 6.2.2003.

(6) OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002.