UNHCR urges EU to uphold common asylum system

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Tuesday urged European Union (EU) member states to adhere to the principles of the common European asylum system as a growing number of Syrian asylum seekers arrive on its shores. The principles include ensuring access to territory, access to asylum procedures, harmonized approaches to the adjudication of asylum claims and mutual support between member states, according to UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards. Currently, the interpretation of protection criteria and the type of status and entitlements granted to Syrians vary considerably in most EU countries, Edwards added. Rejection rates exceed 50 percent in Eastern border countries. Therefore, there is a risk people in need of protection will be denied the rights to which they are entitled under EU and international law, compelling potential refugees to move on. Edwards said it is important that the right to seek asylum is upheld at all times and that the EU should be ready to consider applying appropriate responses to new arrivals. It is estimated that some 20,000 Syrians have filed asylum claims with EU member states in the past 18 months. As the Syrian crisis continues, food prices in the country are reported to have almost doubled in areas where fighting is taking place.