- Title: BELGIUM: EU Commission says UK not obliged to resettle extra refugees
- Date: 22nd September 2009
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 2009) (REUTERS) EU FLAGS COMING INTO FOCUS BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (SEPTEMBER 21, 2009) (EBS) SWEDISH MINISTER FOR MIGRATION AND ASYLUM POLICY TOBIAS BILLSTROEM AND EU COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE JACQUES BARROT ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE END OF EU MEETING OF JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS MINISTERS BILLSTROEM AND BARROT AT START OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) EU VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY JACQUES BARROT SAYING: ''We do not want to oblige the United Kingdom or any other member states to take in or to resettle thousands of extra refugees.'' BILLSTROEM AND BARROT (SOUNDBITE) (French) EU VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY JACQUES BARROT SAYING: ''The action of a member state can only be efficient if it in line with a European action and if it is supported by a good bilateral cooperation. Of course, you saw it, the resettlement programmes are done on a voluntary basis and therefore I completely refute some articles where false things are being said.'' JOURNALISTS LEAVING AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 7th October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Belgium
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA7AJXFBYWDOZPMI2XYMJTCGB8K
- Story Text: The EU Commission says the United Kingdom is not obliged to take in extra refugees, as tensions mount ahead of the closure of a controversial makeshift refugee camp near the entrance of the Channel Tunnel.
The European Union said on Monday (September 21) that the United Kingdom has no obligation to take in any extra refugees or asylum seekers that would be left homeless by the closure of a illegal migrants' camp in Calais.
The camp, known as ''The jungle'', has been the jumping off point for hundreds of asylum seekers bound for the UK.
The French government has vowed to close the place down by the end of this week and the announcement raised concerns in the UK.
EU vice-president in charge of Justice Jacques Barrot said resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers are made on a voluntary basis.
''We do not want to oblige the United Kingdom or any other member states to take in or to resettle thousands of extra refugees,'' Barrot said at a news conference.
Barrot said the closure of the camp would have been more efficient if it had not been decided unilaterally.
''The action of a member state can only be efficient if it in line with a European action and if it is supported by a good bilateral cooperation,'' Barrot said.
British Home Secretary Alan Johnson has announced he was "delighted" about the impending closure of the camp - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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