Asylum return scheme shortfall

Date: 02/10/03

FINANCIAL constraints may derail a possible EU-wide scheme for sending home asylum-seekers whose applications to stay in the Union have been rejected, Justice Commissioner António Vitorino has told MEPs.

In the past, the Portuguese commissioner has hinted that the Union's €216 million European Refugee Fund could be used to fund an “integrated return programme”. But replying to a query from Green MEPs Kathalijne Buitenweg and Jean Lambert, he warned that current forecasts of growth levels and inflation mean the resources to do this may not be available in the short term.

António Vitorino, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, has warned that there may be insufficient monies to fund an 'integrated return programme' for asylum-seekers whose applications to stay in the European Union have been rejected.