Guterres: European migration policies must not undermine refugee rights

(UNRIC) – The top United Nations refugee official has called on the European Union (EU) to ensure that migration control measures do not undermine fundamental rights of asylum-seekers and refugees.

High Commissioner António Guterres expressed concerns about the situation of people intercepted at sea in the Mediterranean and the responses of governments to this, including those of Italy, in a letter addressed to the Czech EU Presidency ahead of a meeting of the group’s Justice and Home Affairs Ministers later this week.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) voiced its concern last month after Italy sent over 200 people it rescued off Maltese waters back to Libya before properly assessing their possible protection needs.

Mr. Guterres called for EU support to Libya to improve the general conditions for asylum-seekers and refugees in the country, and appealed to EU Member States to admit those who appear to be in need of international protection.

“The High Commissioner is aware that some EU Member States, and particularly those located along the Mediterranean, face particular pressures from the arrival of asylum-seekers and refugees,” UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond told a news conference in Geneva today.

He said the agency is prepared to support responsibility-sharing mechanisms within the EU, including some relocation of people found in need of international protection, when reception and asylum systems in specific Member States are under strain. However, UNHCR’s activities cannot be a substitute for State responsibility.

“For that reason, UNHCR continues to call on EU countries to offer resettlement places for refugees who are currently without solutions in Libya and other countries where durable solutions are not available,” Mr. Redmond said.

Changes in applications under European law

The UK Border Agency is changing the way that it processes applications by European nationals and their families for registration certificates, residence cards, family member residence stamps or confirmation of permanent residence in the United Kingdom.

From 1 June 2009, we will check all applications as soon as we receive them. Unless you have completed the application form correctly and provided the necessary supporting evidence, we will not accept your application as valid under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.

Applications submitted from families will be rejected in their entirety unless the necessary supporting evidence has been provided for all of the named applicants.

To make sure that your application is complete, you must:

• submit your application on the current appropriate application form;
• provide all the required photographs of yourself and any family members included in your application, as specified on the application form;
• provide all the original documents specified on the application form – each application form has a section entitled ‘Documents and photographs’, which lists all the supporting evidence that you must provide;
• complete all sections of the application form as required; and
• sign and date the declaration on the application form.

If you do not make your application in this way, with the correct supporting documentation, we will refuse your application and return your application form to you.

If your passport is already with the Home Office, you must provide full details of this – including your Home Office reference number. If you do not provide these details, we will refuse your application and return your application form to you as noted above.

For more information about these types of application, see the Applying under European law page.

Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

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