Tony Killeen
Question:112 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to press for EU asylum policies to be standardised in compliance with the Geneva Convention. [11894/95]
Written Answers. - EU Asylum Policies Standardisation.
The Treaty on European Union provides for co-operation between member states for the purposes of achieving the objectives of the Union, including co-operation in the area of asylum policy. Co-operation is based on a work programme adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council, and subsequently endorsed by the European Council, in accordance with the declaration, No. 31, on asylum of the Treaty on European Union. That declaration states that the Council will consider, as a matter of priority, questions concerning member state's asylum policies with the aim of adopting common action to harmonise them in the light of the work programme and timetable contained in the report on asylum drawn up at the request of the European Council meeting in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 June 1991. Co-operation in the area of asylum policy takes place with due regard to obligations on all member states flowing from the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees, 1951, the Geneva Convention as amended by the 1967 New York Protocol.