 |
 |
European Parliament backs Liberal interpretation of 'refugee'
April 9, 2002 12:00 AM
The European Parliament today supported, in a vote on administrative cooperation in EU immigration and asylum policy, the position of the European Liberal Democrat (ELDR) group that the definition of a refugee should not be limited to someone fleeing 'state' persecution, but could cover 'non-state'.
"This is an important signal of the Parliament´s determination to ensure that humanitarian protection in the EU is not watered down", said Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Euro-MP for London and ELDR justice & home affairs spokeswoman.
"It is immaterial to someone fleeing violence perpetrated by rebels in Algeria, Sudan or Sierra Leone that they have been assaulted by non-government forces who hate or oppress their ethnic, religious or social group. The important question is the legitimacy of their experience or fear of persecution."
The Parliament´s stance reflects the position of courts in the UK, which hesitate to return asylum-seekers to countries (such as France or Germany) which only recognise as refugees people escaping government persecution.
The question will be crucial when operational decisions are taken later this year about the definition of a refugee to be recognised in a harmonised EU asylum system.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats