UNHCR aide-memoire on asylum
2.12.2003
ORAL QUESTION H-0769/03
for Question Time at the part-session in December 2003
pursuant to Rule 43 of the Rules of Procedure
by Konstantinos Alyssandrakis
to the Commission
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Ruud Lubbers, has warned in an aide-memoire of the huge risks inherent in the possible adoption by the EU of a directive on minimum standards on procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status.
The aide-memoire notes that adoption of the directive will result in a significant erosion of international standards on asylum to the point of being contrary to established international law, and calls for its withdrawal or radical reworking.
What is the Commission's response to the UNHCR's criticisms and does it intend to go ahead and adopt a directive which runs counter to international standards and principles on asylum, which have been accepted for the last 50 years?
Tabled: 02.12.2003
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