The majority of European Union (EU)member states are not implementing EU legislation on procedures for granting asylum, said the European Commission on Monday.
After the deadline for transposition of the 2005 Asylum Procedures Directive expired on Saturday, only six member states have notified the commission their full transposition and four others have notified partial transposition.
"The delay in implementing the directive sends a worrying message," said European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini, who is in charge of judicial affairs.
He said the directive provides for a number of procedural guarantees and rights, which are of paramount importance for genuine refugees seeking protection in EU member states.
"These guarantees shall now be recognized, implemented and, if necessary, enforced by courts within the national asylum systems. This should have already become an every day reality for asylum practitioners in member states."
This Asylum Procedures Directive was the last in a series of legislative instruments adopted in the first stage of harmonization of asylum laws and policies of member states.
There were also delays in the transposition of the Reception Conditions Directive and the Qualification Directive.
The first phase lays out the minimum standards for a common EU asylum system. The EU is planning to launch its second phase.
The commission, the executive body of the EU, threatened to take "appropriate procedural steps" against those member states which have not notified their complete implementing measures.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article