"To have a consistent repatriation system for those who have not received any humanitarian protection yet, we should rely on a EU-wide consistent procedure. Unfortunately, in Europe, this requirement is not met. This directive should also offer guarantees and protection to those who need protection". This is one of the concerns voiced today to SIR by Paolo Artini of the UN High Commission for the Refugees (Unhcr), about today’s approval of the "repatriation directive" by European Parliament. In addition, Artini says he is worried about "the extension of the period of detention in the centres: 6 months already sounded like such a long time, 18 months give no humanitarian guarantees, not least because delays do not depend on the people but on their native countries". "In Europe, there are great differences in the recognition of the refugee status he explains during the presentation in Rome of a survey on the "denied ones", people who are denied the refuge status. Rates of recognition range from 57% of the asylum seekers, who are somewhat protected in Italy, to those of other countries, such as Greece, which have 0%, even if such people come from the some countries where human rights are breached or conflicts are going on". (continued)” “
