BBC News Online: UK

Europe's asylum 'soft touch'?

UK | Germany | Netherlands | Belgium | France| Austria

As the row over the Sangatte Red Cross camp continues, the French are arguing that it is the UK's generous treatment of asylum seekers which is prompting refugees to mass around the entrance to the Channel Tunnel.

Although the European Union has been trying to harmonise asylum procedures across member states, there remain differences in the kind of reception an asylum seeker can expect.

Refugees are often accused of shopping around, travelling through "safe" countries before applying for asylum at their destination of choice.

UK

In 2000, the UK received the largest number of asylum applications of any EU country, leading to fears that the country was being perceived as a "soft touch".

Key facts

• Number of asylum applications 2000: 97,860
• Recognition of asylum-seekers in 1999: 72.5%
• Percentage granted refugee status in 1999: 12.1%
• Cases still pending 1999: 102,870

Benefits

• Asylum seekers receive an allowance of £36.54 a week (57 euros), two-thirds of which is in vouchers.

• They can apply for the right to work after six months, but if they find employment they lose their voucher benefits.

• Asylum seekers must prove they are destitute to qualify for state accommodation. They can be housed either in hostels, local authority housing or detention centres across the country.

• Asylum seekers have access to free health care. Expert psychological treatment for victims of torture is provided for asylum seekers in London and South-east England.

• Education is compulsory for children up to 16, and is free up to 18.

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Germany

In the last 10 years the number of asylum seekers in Germany has more than halved.

The backlog of cases pending has been reduced from over 80,000 in 1996 to approximately 40,000 at the beginning of 2000.

Key facts

• Number of asylum applications 2000: 78,760
• Recognition of asylum-seekers in 1999: 13.5%
• Percentage granted refugee status in 1999: 11.3%
• Cases still pending 1999: 65,860

Benefits

• Monthly pocket money has been reduced to 42 euros. All other assistance is given in kind.

• All asylum seekers are placed in reception centres where they stay for up to three months before being housed elsewhere.

• Asylum seekers are examined for contagious diseases on arrival, but psychological assistance is rarely available at reception centres.

• Asylum seekers who have arrived since May 1997 do not have the right to work at any stage during the asylum determination process.

• School is not compulsory, but children have the right to education. It is rare for children to be taught in their mother tongue, or to have extra German language lessons.

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Netherlands

Asylum seekers arriving in the Netherlands via another EU country are not entitled to accommodation in reception centres.

Key facts

• Number of asylum applications 2000: 43,890
• Recognition of asylum-seekers in 1999: 15.6%
• Percentage granted refugee status in 1999: 2.5%
• Cases still pending 1999: none

Benefits

• Asylum seekers receive a one-off allowance, in addition to weekly pocket money and clothing allowance. If food is not provided at the residence centre, the allowance is 39 euros a week.

• All asylum seekers are placed in reception centres where they stay for the first three months before being housed in residence centres, hotels or boarding houses.

• Asylum seekers are offered a general medical check-up on arrival, and can be referred to a specialist by the doctor at the reception centre.

• Asylum seekers are allowed to work for 12 weeks a year.

• School is compulsory for children between five and 16, but asylum seekers are not entitled to advanced education. Dutch culture and language classes are usually provided at the residence centres.

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Belgium

It has more asylum seekers per capita than any other EU country. It takes 4.2 asylum seeker per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to 1.7 in the UK.

Key facts

• Number of asylum applications 2000: 42,690
• Recognition of asylum-seekers in 1999: 32.4%
• Percentage granted refugee status in 1999: 32.4%
• Cases still pending 1999: 0

Benefits

• Asylum seekers receive a one-off allowance, in addition to weekly pocket money and clothing allowance. If food is not provided at the residence centre, the allowance of 39 euros a week.

• Asylum seekers are normally assigned to either an open or closed reception centre on arrival, although they can obtain their own accommodation.

• There is a mandatory test for tuberculosis, and an HIV test is recommended. Asylum seekers staying at reception centres qualify for free healthcare, and two specialised centres for psychological treatment have been set up.

• Asylum seekers have the right to work after their application has been received, and initial processing has been completed.

• School is compulsory for children until the age of 18.

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France

On average it takes about six months for an asylum seeker to be allocated to a reception centre. To qualify for a temporary residence permit asylum seekers need to make an appointment with the local authorities, for which there is a four-month waiting list.

This discourages anyone who does not have friends or relatives in the country from even applying.

Even before the most recent Sangatte row, the UK complained that the French are not doing enough to stop asylum seekers attempting the crossing into the UK.

Key facts

• Number of asylum applications 2000: 38,590
• Recognition of asylum-seekers in 1999: 19.3%
• Percentage granted refugee status in 1999: 19.3%
• Cases still pending 1999: 0

Benefits

• Asylum seekers without friends or family in France usually have to struggle alone due to overcrowding at the reception centres. Many end up in homeless accommodation.

• Asylum seekers receive a one-off allowance equivalent to 314 euros, in addition to a monthly payment of 283 for those not accommodated at reception centres.

• There is a mandatory medical test for asylum seekers admitted to reception centres. The larger centres provide psychological care once or twice a week.

• Asylum seekers have no access to the labour market.

• School is free and compulsory for children until the age of 16. There are no specific integration programmes or state-sponsored language classes.

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Austria

Austria offers state assistance only to those asylum seekers who are unable to provide for themselves through their own means and efforts.

Asylum seekers who are considered not to be in need include those in possession of a mobile phone, and those who are citizens of a member state of the Council of Europe.

Also asylum seekers who are absent from their accommodation for more than three days lose their entitlement to state help.

Key facts

• Number of asylum applications 2000: 18,280
• Recognition of asylum-seekers in 1999: 56.6%
• Percentage granted refugee status in 1999: 41.7 %
• Cases still pending 1999: 11.080

Benefits

• Asylum seekers granted federal care are provided with accommodation in private pensions or federal-run centres. Otherwise they rely on non-profit organisations and night shelter.

• Those on the federal care programme are entitled to a monthly allowance equivalent to $323 (348 euros).

• There is a mandatory test for tuberculosis at reception centres.

• Asylum seekers receiving federal care may be employed in auxiliary activities directly connected with their accommodation (e.g. cleaning, maintenance)

• School is compulsory for children between the ages 6 and 15. Children who do not speak German may take language classes for two years.

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