MEPs vote on the common procedure for international protection in the EU during the EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in Brussels. The vote is followed by a statement by Laura FERRARA (EFDD, IT), rapporteur.

Brussels

statement

vote

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

asylum procedures in the EU (T)

FERRARA, Laura (NI, IT)

Common procedure for international protection in the EU: extracts from the vote and statement by Laura FERRARA (EFDD, IT), rapporteur EP - Illustrative shots

Atmosphere shots before the vote starts, Rapporteur Laura FERRARA (EFDD, IT) (2 shots)

LIBE EP Committee Chair opens the vote on the report on the Common procedure for international protection in the EU, by Laura Ferrara

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Laura FERRARA (EFDD, IT), Rapporteur, I think that with this final text we are making a step forward to achieve a common asylum system, in which procedures would be efficient, fast and similar throughout the EU.

Atmosphere shots and cutaways during the vote on the report (6 shots)

Final vote and results: 36 votes in favour, 12 against and 8 abstentions.

Applause and congratulations to Rapporteur

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Laura FERRARA, Rapporteur, The most important change is the fact that now we are talking about a regulation that will be directly binding for all countries. We see a clear length of time: six months for the acceptance or the rejection of international protection. This (the timing) has an impact especially in countries such as Italy or Greece for example, where today there are stalemate situations, that can be extended for 18 months, before international protection is recognised to an asylum seeker.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Laura FERRARA, Rapporteur, Visiting several refugee camps, (on the stalemate situations) I have noticed that this was one of the most important points. It also entailed social tensions among the people in the camps, because they had to wait for months and months before knowing their destiny.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Laura FERRARA, Rapporteur, We tried to counter balance different situations: from one side, when there is an abuse of the system, these (situations) have to be absolutely denied; from the other side, there are several cases in which we have to consider the particular condition of an asylum seeker, with a specific regard to more vulnerable categories. 

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Laura FERRARA, Rapporteur, We underlined the fact that no detention measures can be applied to minors.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Laura FERRARA, Rapporteur, If they are unaccompanied, the minors cannot be detained, if they are with their own family, an alternative measure has always to be considered. In the case in which it is not possible to find an alternative, the minor cannot be detained neither.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Laura FERRARA, Rapporteur, I think that the most important thing is to ensure rapidity, efficiency of the procedure, that has to be the same in all the Member States, because nowadays we complain about the countries that needs more time, that violate several directives... In this way, timing and modus operandi will be clear for all the Member States.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Laura FERRARA, Rapporteur, It is important to work toward an equal alocation of responsibilities and to guarantee a common European asylum system - that has to be the same for all the Member States - this would open the doors to a European asylum right.

Illustrative shots: People queuing in a refugee camp. (1 shot)

Security checks: fingerprints scanner, documents, and explanations of the procedure. (3 shots)

MEPs delegation visiting a refugee campin greece: explanations, tents, children, details of the camp. (9 shots)