Support mounts for EU asylum camps in Africa
Justice Minister Michael McDowell said he had an open mind on the matter and was waiting to hear all the arguments for and against before coming to a decision.
He was supportive generally of a so-called white list of countries from which people could not claim to need asylum.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has already had discussions with Libya to set up a camp in the North African state to hold people trying to enter the EU illegally.
The German Interior Minister, Otto Schily, wants the EU to adopt a similar policy and will push the issue at today’s meeting.
The idea was first mooted by Britain some time ago but was rejected after countries failed to agree and the idea was condemned by several human rights organisations and the UN High Commission for Refugees.
Yesterday Mr Schily insisted his proposal was different because it does not suggest asylum seekers already in the EU would be sent to such camps.
Since floating the idea in Germany earlier this week he has refused to give details of how it would work.
Yesterday in The Hague he was equally reticent but promised to flesh out the idea some more when the matter is discussed by his fellow EU ministers during the second day of their informal meeting.
The Irish Government was not very enthusiastic about the plan when it was first raised by the British but its rejection out of hand by the Swedes and to a lesser extent by the French saw it die a swift death in the end.
Mr McDowell said he looked forward to the unfolding discussion about it and that some member states believed it to have some practical benefits. He was interesting in hearing how it would conform to the UN 1951 Convention on refugees and to international standards generally.
“It does not pay to have a closed mind. We have to look at it cautiously,” he said.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
