PERCO General Meeting Oslo, 26-27 April 2007

1. Presentation by Rickard Olseke Red Cross / EU Office PERCO General MeetingOslo, 26-27 April 2007

2. Advocacy – EU Red Cross “identity cards” – role of National Societies! Future of the Common European Asylum System – forthcoming European Commission Green Paper – call for contributions! RC / EU Campaign on diversity & non-discrimination – reminder!

4. “The Red Cross underline the necessity to create a truly common European asylum system with a common procedure and a uniform asylum and subsidiary protection status. This would mean a true harmonisation of the asylum policies of the member states and possibly the creation of an EU institution with the mandate to follow and influence the policies of the member states.” A Common European Asylum System (CEAS)

5. Asking specific questions, but also welcomes “free thinking” about the future of the CEAS To be adopted 6 June, deadline for replies 30 August, public hearing 18 October Resulting in a CEAS “Policy Plan”, to be adopted February-March 2008 Proposals for “second phase” legislative instruments during 2008… European Commission Green Paper

6. Legislative instruments – How can the “first phase” instruments be improved? Where are the gaps? Implementation/practical cooperation – Do we need common guidelines? A “European Support Office”? Solidarity/responsibility sharing – Financial support mechanism? Improving/complementing the Dublin system? External dimension – How to strengthen protection in third countries? Encourage and facilitate resettlement? European Commission Green Paper

7. Start thinking now! – What do we mean by a “common procedure”? A “uniform asylum and subsidiary protection status”? What is “true harmonisation of asylum policies”? Read the Green Paper in June! Provide your input to the RC/EU Office no later than Monday 2 July! Adoption latest end of August and submission to the European Commission… EU Red Cross Common Position

8. In 2005 the RC/EU Office Coordination Group decided to strengthen the work of EUNS in the field of diversity & non-discrimination This was welcomed by the EUNS Directors of National Operations meeting in September 2005 and confirmed by the 2005 Annual Meeting – a preparatory group of EUNS representatives was created The preparatory group developed a framework in early 2006, followed by the appointment of Frederike de Graaf as a staff-on-loan at the RC/EU Office in October last year RC/EU Campaign on diversity & non-discrimination

9. In January 2007 a concept note was developed for a joint RC/EU campaign with the aim of providing EUNS with a “menu” of activities based on good practices The concept note was sent to EUNS on 20 March with a request to identify a contact person – at the moment eight contact persons have been identified It would be great if you could assist us in raising this number! RC/EU Campaign on diversity & non-discrimination

10. RC/EU Campaign on diversity & non-discrimination Please contact: Frederike de Graaf Desk Officer Non-discrimination & promotion of Humanitarian Values frederike.degraaf@redcross-eu.net Tel.: +32 (0)2 235 09 13

11. Thank you!