ECRE Actions

Rüdiger Veit, German MP from the Social Democrats, talks about his visit to a Libyan refugee camp in Tripoli on 01 June 2010 and the European responsibility. His visit took place before UNHCR was expelled from Libya. About two weeks ago Libya and Italy, with the involvement of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), have signed an agreement which provides that the over 400 Eritrean refugees who were being detained in inhumane conditions in Libya will be freed and receive Libyan residency in exchange for work.

in English, German Version below!

ECRE_Interview_Ruediger_Veit.pdf (181.26 KB)

ECRE launches a Memorandum to the Belgian Presidency, which contains an overview of key recommendations. These have also been transferred in a letter to  Mrs. J. Milquet (Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Employment and Equal Opportunities in charge of Immigration and Asylum), Mr. M. Wathelet (Secretary of State for Immigration and Asylum) and to the Belgian EU Presidency.

ECRE welcomes the focus of the Belgian Presidency on taking the discussions on the EU’s asylum legislative framework forward and on trying to achieve significant progress in this area. ECRE also underlines that a global vision on all instruments is needed to ensure that the second phase of harmonisation results in a legislative framework that allows a more coherent and consistent policy throughout the EU. Moreover, there is a clear need for higher standards at EU level with regard to all aspects of the CEAS, including complex and politically sensitive matters such as asylum procedures and reception conditions.

ECRE Memorandum for the Belgian presidency (61.4 KB)

ECRE Letter to the Belgian Presidency (42.53 KB)

On the occasion of World Refugee Day and the Umbrella Event here in Brussels, ECRE interviewed Melchior Wathelet, Belgium's Secretary of State for Asylum and Immigration.

Wathelet talked about World Refugee Day, the priorities of the upcoming Belgian EU Presidency and the role of NGOs in the harmonisation process of the different asylum policies in the 27 EU Member States.

ECRE_Interview_Melchior_Wathelet.pdf (153.97 KB)

Following the adoption of a Joint EU Resettlement Programme by the European Parliament last week, Akoi Bazzie talks about his experiences and the strength and importance of NGO advocacy and support for resettlement. Akoi Bazzie himself was resettled to the UK from a refugee camp in Guinea six years ago and works now as Community Development Worker for the British Refugee Council and is a Pastor in Sheffield (UK). He liaises between newly arrived refugees, local communities, local authorities and NGOs to promote integration as a shared responsibility. Akoi Bazzie shows how refugees positively contribute to society, in sharing his knowledge and helping other refugees to integrate.

ECRE_Interview_Akoi_Bazzie.pdf (111.92 KB)

Eastern Europe extract Annual Report 2009

EE extract for Annual Report 2009.doc (156.5 KB)

On Tuesday the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs (LIBE) adopted two reports on resettlement. The first one, dealing with the European Refugee Fund for 2008-2013 envisages that Member States which are resettling refugees for the first time will receive €6000 per person in the first year, €5,000 in the second year and €4,000 thereafter. The second report sets out the principles that should underpin the future joint EU resettlement programme.

ECRE interviews Rui Tavares (GUE/NGL, Portugal), member of the LIBE Committee, who drafted the reports.

ECRE Interview with Rui Tavares, GUE/NGL, Portugal

Date: 30-04-2010

Frontex: “Member States remain responsible for the consequences of returning people to third countries"

Date: 19-03-2010

ECRE Interview: Andreas Kamm

Date: 26-02-2010

ECRE INTERVIEW: Spokesperson Sindicato Unificado de Policia, José Maria Benito

Date: 12-02-2010