Lib Dems urge EU asylum overhaul

Refugees leave Sangatte to try to cross the Channel

Home Secretary David Blunkett has been called on to "urgently" consider a radical overhaul of asylum procedure to cut dangerous cross-Channel illegal immigration attempts.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Simon Hughes pressed Mr Blunkett to consider processing applications for asylum in the UK in camps on the continent.

He also called for the asylum system to be standardised across the EU with responsibility for refugees spread equally between member states.

The responsibility... should be shared fairly between all the countries of the EU

Simon Hughes
Liberal Democrats

Fierce controversy has blown up over the role of camps - such as Sangatte near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel - that act as staging posts for illegal immigrants.

A spate of attempts by refugees to stow away on trains or walk through the tunnel has led Mr Blunkett to demand a meeting with his French counterpart on the issue.

Mr Hughes said French and British officials could process applications, overseen by a representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Sensible precedent

He said he had a meeting with Mr Blunkett on Thursday to put forward the proposals.

"Most of the risk of the cross-Channel journeys would be reduced at a stroke.

"This would be a sensible precedent for the procedure of the EU as a whole.

The Liberal Democrats are pressing for new measures

"Applications in Europe could be processed by teams of officials from different EU countries, led by the host country, and dealt with so that the same criteria apply to applications wherever they are made in the EU."

Officials in France have suggested that asylum seekers are travelling through "safe" continental Europe to Britain, partly because they see the UK's system as softer.

France - and other European nations - have tougher criteria as well as compulsory ID cards which make life harder for those residing illegally.

Mr Hughes continued: "If an asylum seeker has a particularly good case for coming to a specific European country, then that application would be closely considered.

New process

"But otherwise, the responsibility for people whose application succeeds should be shared fairly between all the countries of the EU.

"A Europe-wide approach like this is clearly a priority at Calais and Sangatte.

"We could start with a pilot scheme and collaborate in a new process for dealing with asylum seekers where they are.

"I hope Mr Blunkett will pursue my suggestion seriously and urgently with his French opposite number.

"I shall be putting the same ideas to the French ambassador when I meet him in the next few days."