Asylum is a duty for Europe

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)