Tal
Paris, Frankrike 8 september 2008
Tobias Billström, Migrationsminister

Tal vid ministerkonferens om asylfrågor i Paris

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by thanking the Government of France for taking the initiative to host this Ministerial Conference on asylum. Sweden is very pleased that France has decided to make migration and asylum issues top priorities during its Presidency of the EU. Sweden welcomes France´s announced intention to devote particular attention during its Presidency to "building a Europe of Asylum" and to define key understandings in the proposed "European Pact on Immigration and Asylum".

Sweden supports the work towards a Common European Asylum System. We believe that the Member States, as well as the individual seeking protection in Europe, will gain from common rules. In the Hague programme it was agreed to set up a Common European Asylum System. France and the incoming presidencies, not least Sweden, will have a responsibility to bring forward this work. Although the agenda for achieving such a system is very ambitious, and we all need both firm aspirations and intense work to achieve these goals, we are determined to reach them.

Today, some Member States receive a disproportionately large share of asylum seekers relative to other Member States. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that there are still significant differences between Member States´ national provisions on asylum procedures, protection related statuses and reception conditions, since the existing Community legislation only contains minimum standards. The establishment of a Common European Asylum System is therefore a key measure in this respect. Such a system is also necessary in order to maintain the long-term sustainability of our asylum systems, and to promote solidarity within the EU.

There will of course be a number of crucial questions to deal with in the process of establishing the Common European Asylum System. I would like to take this opportunity to shed extra light on a few that I believe should be discussed further. One of the questions is how a person outside the EU, with legitimate needs for protection will have access to protection in Europe in a legal way. As acknowledged in the proposed Pact on immigration and asylum, improving measures to combat illegal immigration and people smuggling are pressing, but the measures must be implemented in such a way that they do not undermine this possibility, and the respect for fundamental human rights in the asylum procedure.

I think we all agree that one of the goals with a Common European Asylum System, is that it should have credibility. To achieve that goal it is necessary that emphasis in the asylum system is placed on the actual access to the possibility to apply for asylum. It is also necessary that the asylum system is efficient and in accordance with international law obligations and the rule of law. The processing time must be as short as possible to avoid unwished costs, both in economical terms and in terms of human suffering. Coherence in application of the common rules must be ensured, here the European Court of Justice will play an important role. The asylum system must also contain rules and routines to handle persons whose applications for asylum are refused. The return of failed asylum seekers is essential for maintaining the credibility of the asylum process.

Another major question is what role the EU should play in a global system for protection of refugees. UNHCR has been given a global mandate by the international community to provide protection and assistance to refugees. As overall strategies regarding the external dimension are currently being developed within the EU, it is important that this is done in close cooperation with the UNHCR. The EU should therefore reinforce its role as a partner to the UNHCR.

In developing the external dimension, two measures, also mentioned in the "European Pact on Immigration and Asylum", are particularly important. First, a common resettlement programme should be developed. Secondly, a closer cooperation with third countries to increase the capacities of their protection systems should be carried out.

Resettlement complies a complement to efforts to provide protection to the millions of people stranded in the major refugee-hosting regions of the world. We should not underestimate the value of resettlement - albeit limited in volume - as a tool for burden sharing. If used strategically, it could contribute to solving protracted refugee situations and prevent others from becoming permanent. In turn, that would have a positive impact on secondary movements. With a more strategic use of resettlement, the aim should be more than just to offer protection and a durable solution to a number of individual refugees. If pooled resettlement resources could be used in a context that would encourage countries of origin to accept return and host countries to accept local integration, or at least self-reliance, the compounded benefit for refugees would be so much greater. And at best it could solve protracted refugee situations. This is where an EU resettlement programme should make a difference. If all EU Member States could contribute to a common programme, we could reach the volumes necessary to achieve a strategic impact.

Developing countries hosting major populations of refugees and internally displaced persons are in need of support from the international community in order to uphold their ability to protect and welcome refugees. This provides the rationale for complementing the internal asylum system by continuing to strengthen external action in regions of origin and transit. European foreign policy strategies, including conflict solution and prevention, could be instrumental in resolving political conflicts which often underlie protracted refugee situations. Durable solutions should be integrated in Community development strategies. The concept of Regional Protection Programmes should be developed and scaled up as a strategic complement to other forms of humanitarian support and capacity building.

Finally, to conclude and to reiterate; a common European asylum system cannot only consist of a regulatory framework for those who manage to come to Europe and apply for asylum in a Member State. The external dimension must also be developed with a common resettlement programme and capacity building in third countries.

Thank you for your attention.