Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 November 2004
89 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the proposal from a number of EU countries for the establishment of transit camps for asylum seekers in north Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27258/04]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to a very general outline of proposals for the setting up of transit reception centres in north Africa which was canvassed by German Interior Minister Schily at the informal JHA Council on 30 September and 1 October 2004 in the Netherlands. As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 301 on 27 October 2004, the stated objective of the German proposals, which remain to be further elaborated, is to address the serious and ongoing problem of persons seeking to enter the EU illegally by crossing the Mediterranean by sea and the potential for serious loss of life which this involves.
There is a recognition among member states, which is shared by the UNHCR and the European Commission, that action needs to be taken to tackle movements of people by sea in the Mediterranean region to avoid serious loss of life in the future. The Commission is considering funding proposals received from the UNHCR concerning the strengthening of asylum systems in certain north African states which involve, inter alia, promoting legislation and training of officials from the states involved in refugee status determination. This will enhance the capacity of those states to deal with refugee flows.
I am of the view that the German ideas, which as I have indicated have not been elaborated on in great detail to date, raise a wide range of important issues which need to be addressed, including human rights, legal and humanitarian considerations and linkages to developing the capacity of regions of origin to deal with large-scale migration flows. Pending more detailed clarification from Germany, I am very much keeping an open mind on this issue and I have not yet brought Ireland's position on the matter to Government for a policy decision.
For the information of the Deputy, the EU Council is at present considering a follow-up multi-annual work programme to the work programme agreed by the European Council at Tampere in 1999 covering, inter alia, the areas of asylum and immigration. This new programme to be called the Hague Programme was considered recently by the JHA Council at its meeting on 25-26 October 2004 and is due to be examined by the European Council on 5 November 2004. The new multi-annual programme will, inter alia, address in a comprehensive manner the external dimension of asylum and migration and will place far greater emphasis on partnership with countries and regions of origin and transit. It will also deal with the question of EU support for capacity building in those countries to enable them to better manage migration and to provide adequate protection for refugees.
