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EU: European Commissionners divided over "safe countries of origin" list

01 May 2006

It is reported that European Commissionners are divided over which states should be on the list of "safe countries of origin" to which people can automatically be returned (euobserver, eupolitix links). The list under discussion covers seven African countries: Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde, Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Mauritius - the same seven countries discussed by the Council of the European Union in 2004.

See for full background:

1. Statewatch Analysis: EU divided over list of "safe countries of origin" - the list should be scrapped (pdf)

2. Appendix to this report with full details of all the EU member state responses (pdf)

3. Sources/documents, including member state responses

4. The Council's amended proposal of September 2004 - which despite all the evidence declares all seven "safe" to send people back to: EU doc no: 12118/04 (pdf)

5. The Council's decision to put off agreeing a list under the aslyum procedures Directive was in place: 14383/04 (pdf)

Tony Bunyan, Statewatch editor, comments:

"To determine the fate of people fleeing from poverty and persecution on the basis of such a shallow process by the Council was an insult to any sense of humanity or moral responsibility, let alone legal obligations. In 2004 the Commission opposed the inclusion of these countries - what has changed, where is the evidence that they are now safe?"