ECRE Actions

ECRE launches a Memorandum to the Czech Presidency, which contains an overview of key recommendations.

The Czech Republic will hold the Presidency of the European Union at a period where the building blocks of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) will start to be redefined. To this end ECRE urges the Czech Presidency to use its position of leadership in the Council to lay down a sound foundation for the completion of a Common European Asylum System.

ECRE Memorandum to the Czech Presidency (164.14 KB)

This is an interview with two representatives from ECRE member organisations, Pieter de Gryse (Flemish Refugee Action) and Ariane den Uyl (Dutch Council for Refugees) who have participated in a mission to the Al Tanf, Al Hol and al Waleed camps on the Syria-Iraq border. They have spoken to the men, women and children living in these camps, where around 3,000 Palestinian refugees from Iraq are struggling to survive appalling conditions and saw the desperate situation they live in.

Struggling to survive on the Syria-Iraq border - Interview (822.85 KB)

A delegation of representatives from NGOs from all over the world have conducted a mission to the Al Tanf, Al Hol and al Waleed camps on the Syria-Iraq border, where around 3,000 Palestinian refugees from Iraq are struggling to survive appalling conditions.

In view of the JHA Council on 27 November 2008, 10 organisations, including ECRE, have called upon all EU Member States to join forces and help resolve the situation of the Iraqi Palestinians by resettling them to Europe. If each Member State would share the responsibility equally this would amount to resettling a mere 10 families each. This modest act would provide a durable solution for the Palestinians in these camps.

Joint NGO Letter on Resettlement of Palestinian Refugees (249.89 KB)

During its Biannual General Meeting, held in Paris on 30-31 October, ECRE adopted the "Paris Call for European Solidarity" , urging the EU to build a Europe of asylum based on the principles of protection and solidarity.

ECRE strongly believes that the values of solidarity, integration and dialogue must be at the core of European policies. We call on the EU to put human rights concerns back at the centre of the debate in order to build a genuine Europe of Asylum.

ECRE Paris call for European Solidarity (104.05 KB)

Jacques Barrot, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Freedom Security and Justice, addressed ECRE membership at ECRE Biannual General Meeting held in Paris on 30 October.

Vice President Barrot stressed that asylum remains an absolute priority and a moral duty for Europe and recognised that present EU asylum policies lead to a double injustice: firstly, towards refugees, because their chance of being protected depend on the country in which they request asylum and secondly between States, because the system places a much greater strain on some countries because of its geographic position or its demography.

Barrot acknowledged the role of ECRE in the design of European Asylum policies and invited the network to maintain its constructive dialogue with the European Commission.

ECRE Paris BGM - Barrot speech (124.07 KB)

Presentation by Patricia Coelho, Head of Advocacy and Development, given at a European Parliament LIBE Committee Public Hearing on Fundamental Rights in the EU, highlighting key issues relating to the fundamental rights of asylum seekers and refugees.

ECRE is pleased that the draft report on fundamental rights includes a section on migrants and refugees, especially since The European Pact on Immigration and Asylum developed by the French Presidency shows that the Council is continuing to emphasise the security/enforcement dimension of asylum and immigration over the human rights of individuals. It is important for the EP to help redress this imbalance. ECRE therefore urges the EP to do this by making full use of its new powers on asylum and immigration issues under the co-decision procedure in the coming years.

ECRE presentation at a LIBE fundamental rights public hearing (142.01 KB)

ECRE welcomes the Conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 25 September 2008 on the reception of Iraqis in the Member States of the European Union.

ECRE Statement on Resettlement of Iraqis (110.24 KB)

14 NGOs, including ECRE, call on EU governments to urgently help solve the desperate plight of Palestinian refugees from Iraq.

The letter encourages all EU Member States to follow the example of Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden and to engage in resettlement of more than 3000 Palestinians currently living in Iraq. Due to the horrific conditions in camps and exposure to attacks and threats from armed groups, 837 families are left stranded in an emergency situation. While the efforts to improve the situation in camps by UNHCR are restricted, resettlement would provide a durable solution and help from preventing a possible catastrophe.

The recommendations set in the letter aim to provide a very important and positive first step to implementing the conclusions on Iraqi refugees adopted by the JHA Council on 24-25 July 2008.

Joint NGO Letter on Resettlement of Palestinians (77.43 KB)

UNHCR and ECRE recently signed a joint advocacy statement setting out their common position on resettlement, which was made public at the UNHCR Annual Consultations with NGOs in Geneva on 25 June 2008.

This statement is intended as a tool to foster cooperation between UNHCR and NGOs at the national level across Europe, in the context of their joint objective to encourage and support European countries to resettle more vulnerable refugees who cannot find protection or a durable solution to their plight in the first country to which they have fled. UNHCR and ECRE work closely together at the EU level to support efforts by the EU institutions and Member States to increase the resettlement of refugees to Europe and develop a European Resettlement Programme.

UNHCR-ECRE Advocacy Statement on Resettlement (65.67 KB)

ECRE launches a Memorandum to the French Presidency, which contains an overview of key recommendations and indicators by which the French Presidency will be assessed.

As a country with a long tradition in offering asylum and in view of the importance it will give to immigration and asylum issues during its Presidency through its forthcoming Pact, France has the potential to make a significant contribution to improving Europe's role in the global refugee protection system.

ECRE Memorandum French Presidency ENG (165.29 KB)

ECRE Memorandum French Presidency FR (176.46 KB)