Bulgarian (pdf)
Government and UNHCR representatives attend the launch of the FDQ project in Budapest. © UNHCR/T.Moayed
A New Phase of Cooperation on Quality Assurance in Europe
Budapest, 17-18 June 2010 (UNHCR) - Government officials from twelve countries in Central and Southern Europe and the UN Refugee Agency have launched the largest asylum quality assurance project that has ever been undertaken among European Union states.
Further Developing Asylum Quality (FDQ), which is a follow-up to the Asylum System Quality Assurance and Evaluation Mechanism (ASQAEM), will examine, assess and develop quality assurance systems in the asylum procedures of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Slovakia. It will involve exchanges the asylum authorities of Austria, Germany and the UK, who will act in a mentoring capacity by sharing experiences.
The overarching objective of the project is to improve the quality of asylum procedures, in accordance with international and community standards and principles of refugee and human rights law. The project, which is facilitated by UNHCR, aims to build the capacity and expertise of the asylum authorities with regard to the refugee status determination process.
The Central European countries, through the input of UNHCR experts and cooperation with other member states, will seek to implement the recommendations that were made in the first phase of the project.
For the Southern European countries that are now entering the first phase, the project will seek to identify specific aspects of the asylum procedure needing additional support and provide practical advice. They will also develop methods and written guidance to provide longer term support to the enhancement of quality in asylum systems. In this way the project will support through practical co-operation arrangements the building of effective and sustainable internal review and quality assurance mechanisms. They will contribute to the harmonization of asylum practices and to maintain high standards in the asylum systems of EU member states.
UNHCR Regional Representative for Southern Europe, Laurens Jolles speaking at the event. © UNHCR/T.Moayed
More than Just Policy
Those involved in the FDQ project have clearly stated that their aim is to bring about substantial change on the field as well as on paper. UNHCR Regional Representative for Central Europe, Gottfried Koefner explained, "We do it because procedures deal with people" and for this reason, "we need to put our best resources and capabilities forward to deliver the best results."
Southern Europe's UNHCR representative, Laurens Jolles, echoed Mr. Koefner, stating that "the goal will not be to over harmonise the process, but to maintain high standards of protection as it is ultimately the quality of the protection provided to asylum seekers and refugees that counts."
An Environment of Cooperation
The FDQ project will be oriented around the sharing of knowledge, experience and lessons among member states that have been engaged in Quality Assurance activities for some years, as well as member states which have recently begun to engage in quality discussions and others which may engage in the future.
Michael Ross, the FDQ Project Coordinator explained that what is important is "setting the right tone, so member states feel safe and comfortable sharing ideas and experiences."
The UK Border Agency presenting on their quality assurance experiences. © UNHCR/T.Moayed
This culture of cooperation was clearly shown when British, Austrian and German asylum authorities made presentations on their policies and procedures and answered questions on issues ranging from training techniques to availability of resources. All three presentations emphasised the significance of the close relationship between their respective governments and national UNHCR offices.
Wolfgang Taucher, the director of the Austrian Federal Asylum Agency, highlighted the need for continuous learning, even among countries that have already completed their Quality Assessment programs. He explained that it is a constant challenge to discover new and improved training methods to constantly improve asylum quality.
Need for Consistency in Europe
As a result of the European wide policies stipulated under Dublin II, there is an important need for consistency in decision-making in the EU states. The purpose of this regulation is to determine which state is responsible for examining an asylum application - normally the state where the asylum seeker first entered the EU - and to make sure that each claim gets a fair examination in one member state. Furthermore, if the application of an asylum seeker is denied in one EU country, the decision would be respected by other EU states.
However, to date, there still remain "extraordinary differences in outcomes", as Madeline Garlick explained. During her speech at the launch, UNHCR's Head of Policy and Legal Support Unit in Brussels said that there are major discrepancies in the asylum procedures of states across Europe. With regard to Iraqi asylum seekers, she cited that in France 82 percent were given refugee status, while only 21 percent were accepted by Sweden, and 3 percent in Greece.
Refugees need to have an equal chance to obtain protection if needed, in all member states of the EU. The project will contribute to the creation of a Common European Asylum System, consistent with procedural standards and safeguards.
There has never been a comparable cross-regional project of this magnitude involving such a large number of member states of varying profiles in the area of asylum, which shows the importance of this initiative. At the end of this project, participating states will have invested time and resources into quality improvement activities. Fair and efficient procedures are in the interest of everyone, in particular of the host country and of the asylum-seekers and refugees. Harmonized procedures and decision making practices further increase efficiency, avoid redundant procedures and human hardship. It would also ensure clarity and give perspective to refugees about their future at an early stage.
By Tara Moayed in Budapest, Hungary
