EU Braces Itself for Influx of Iraqi Refugees

The European Union is considering emergency measures to cope with an expected influx of tens of thousands of refugees seeking to escape the escalating sectarian bloodshed in Iraq, it emerged yesterday.

Franco Frattini, the EU justice and home affairs commissioner, told interior ministers in Brussels he would present precise proposals for the 27 countries to deal with a surge in claims for asylum from Iraqis within the next few weeks.

His move coincided with an appeal to the EU from the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) in Brussels for more action to protect Iraqi refugees - and for more burden sharing for Sweden, which has taken in around half of current Iraqi asylum-seekers.

Around 2 million Iraqis have left their country since the US-led war on Saddam Hussein almost exactly four years ago and a further 1.8 million "internal refugees" are scattered throughout the country, according to the UNHCR, which calls it the biggest human displacement in the Middle East in recent history.

"The humanitarian situation is grave and deteriorating. States should respond to the protection needs of Iraqi asylum-seekers on their own territory," said Madeline Garlick, a UNHCR official.

The UN appeal came a day after the Bush administration said it would allow 7,000 Iraqis into the US this year, compared with 202 in 2006, and would contribute more to help Iraq's neighbours cope with an influx of refugees. Most have fled to Jordan, Syria and Iran - the latter two are pariah states in Washington's eyes.

The European commission said it would give an extra €10m (£6.7m) for the "most vulnerable" victims of the crisis in Iraq - mainly for healthcare and education but also food and essential household items.

Sweden, where 70,000 Iraqis already live under the country's generous asylum laws, took more than 9,000 applications for asylum from Iraqis last year compared with 2,330 in 2005. This was around half of the 20,000 claims submitted throughout the EU in 2006 - of which 10% were granted. The Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Britain and Belgium received most of the rest of the applications.

Mr Frattini told journalists: "This is a particular problem now for Sweden but I don't exclude it becoming one for other member states in future ... We will deal with this very sensitive issue specifically with proposals in writing well before the next meeting [of justice and home affairs ministers]."

Tobias Billstrom, Swedish minister for migration and asylum policy, said there was no sign of any immediate stabilisation in Iraq. "We must therefore expect further disturbances and a continued exodus of people ... There must be solidarity between EU member states so that more of us share the responsibility for offering protection to refugees."

Pointing out that the EU aimed for a common asylum system by 2010, he called for Europe to contribute more financially to transit countries such as Syria and Iran.

The pending moves on Iraqi refugees coincided with ministers' decisions to step up controls on illegal immigrants to the EU, with a new wave expected from April, according to Wolfgang Schäuble, the German interior minister. He said the "toolbox" for Frontex, the Warsaw-based border agency, should be complete by then. So far it has eight aircraft, 13 helicopters and about 50 boats, which is half the equipment it needs.