Caritas Europa

CCME
Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe

COMECE
Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community

ICMC
International Catholic Migration Commission

Justice and Peace
Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions

JRS
Jesuit Refugee Service Europe

QCEA
Quaker Council for European Affairs

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 11 December 2001

Seven Christian Churches and Church agencies today issue a call to the upcoming European Union summit in Laeken (14-15 December) to give new political impetus to the EU's common asylum and immigration policy.

Whilst expressing appreciation for the work carried out so far, the Churches point out several shortcomings. Restrictive visa policies and fines imposed on carriers force people in need of international pro-tection to use irregular ways to get access to the asylum procedure. Procedures for assessing asylum applications remain flawed, and public opinion towards asylum-seekers continues to be negative. Concerns about the protection of refugees and discussions about legal channels of immigration are overshadowed by the fight against illegal immigration.

This statement calls for genuine harmonisation of EU policy, based on best practice, including:

• An asylum system based on the full application of the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention, ensuring that those in need of protection have access to the territory of the EU, are received in dignified conditions, and have their asylum claims examined fairly, efficiently and fully;

• An immigration policy that balances Europe's need for labour with fairness to migrants and increased commitment to co-operate with countries of origin.

Harmonisation will need to overcome the major obstacle of member states reneging on their political commitment to establish an area of freedom, security and justice. A reasonable way out of the current impasse in decision-making would be abolish the requirement of unanimity regarding asylum and immigration policy.

The statement calls on EU leaders, in evaluating the progress made in the field of immigration and asylum since the EU summit in Tampere in October 1999, to go beyond national and Euro-pean interests by sharing responsibility fairly and creating equal opportunities at a global level.

END

For more information, contact
Doris Peschke of CCME at +32 2 234.68.00,
Bruno Kapfer of Caritas Europa at +32 2 235.03.96,
or Felix Leinemann of COMECE at +32 2 235.05.13.