Vol. 566 No. 1
611 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Government's views on the British proposal discussed at the EU Council meeting in Veria on 28-29 March 2003 to establish regional refugee protection and processing zones outside the borders of Europe, intended to ensure that the anticipated mass exodus of Iraqi refugees do not reach Europe. [9902/03]
The proposals on new approaches to international protection referred to by the Deputy were tabled by the United Kingdom for consideration at the meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 20 and 21 March 2003. The proposals were also discussed on the basis of a presentation by the British Home Secretary at the Informal JHA Council held in Greece on 28-29 March 2003.
In summary, the UK proposals, which do not have the intention referred to by the Deputy, involved in the medium term, the establishment of centres on transit routes to the EU for the processing of asylum applications particularly those lodged by persons who are economic migrants; in the longer term, measures to improve the regional management of migration flows through solutions, inter alia, which address the causes of mass population outflows; greater protection for displaced persons in or near countries of origin; and the development of managed resettlement routes or legal routes for genuine refugees to come to the EU and raising awareness of states' responsibilities to accept returns of failed asylum seekers.
The European Council meeting in Brussels on 20 and 21 March 2003 noted the United Kingdom proposal and invited the European Commission to further explore the ideas contained therein, in particular with the UNHCR, and to report to the meeting of the next Council in June 2003. I understand that the Commission is examining the proposal at the present time in consultation with the UNHCR.
I welcome the development of enhanced co-operation by EU states and initiatives aimed at addressing the large-scale abuse of asylum processes by persons who are primarily interested in entering the Union for economic reasons and at ensuring that genuine refugees receive protection more quickly. The UK proposals were framed with these objectives in mind. However, as the proposals in question are still very much preliminary ideas for new approaches to protection, I would consider it prudent to await the outcome of the European Commission's consideration of the complex issues involved and its report to the June European Council.
