Immigration rate down 7%: Robinson

UN human rights chief Mary Robinson today expressed concern that the European debate on illegal immigration was ignoring the fact that the number of refugees is declining.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said last week that overall asylum applications in the 15 European Union nations were down to 87,014 during the first three months of this year, 7% lower than the 93,737 filed in the final quarter of 2001.

‘‘It is worrying that the public mood does not reflect an actual reality,’’ Mrs Robinson said. ‘‘It is not as if the problem was increasing exponentially.’’

‘‘I am particularly concerned that the number of those seeking to come to Europe for asylum or refugee status is actually on the decline,’’ she told reporters.

The 58-year-old former Irish president was in the Danish capital to receive the University of Copenhagen’s Sonning Prize for contributions to European culture.

Mrs Robinson, who fought for equal rights for women and homosexuals as a lawyer, was cited for her ‘‘indefatigable fight for humanity in her political and professional life.’’

She said she was ‘‘concerned’’ by the EU debate ahead of this weekend’s summit in Seville, Spain, during which member countries are expected to agree on plans to clamp down on illegal immigrants who leave or pass through their territory.

EU nations are divided over proposals to impose trade or aid sanctions on nonmember countries which fail to stop illegal immigrants.

Mrs Robinson urged leaders to speak more about the real figures because ‘‘it is important to put the problem in perspective.’’

She also said she was worried that public fears about immigrants could mean tougher handling of refugees and asylum seekers in police stations and holding stations.

‘‘The evidence on the ground is that the treatment is harsher, the language is abusive,’’ she said.

‘‘When you have a particular approach, when there is an overall climate, it immediately impacts vulnerable people who are seeking to come in.’’