UNHCR criticises 'frenzied' debate on asylum

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) last night criticised what it called "frenzied" debate on the issue of asylum seekers in Europe, pointing out that the number of people seeking asylum in the EU was half what it was ten years ago.

"Given the somewhat frenzied political debate unfolding in a number of European countries over the past month, these charts contain some rather striking facts," said UNHCR spokesman Rupert Colville at a press conference last night.

The statistics show that 384,530 people sought asylum in European Union countries last year, compared with 675,460 in 1992. However the figures also show that the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland has increased dramatically from 40 in 1992 to 10,320 last year.

The UNHCR says the statistics correspond with major crises: the numbers peaked in the early 1990s, when two major wars were taking place in Croatia and Bosnia. The numbers were more than halved in the mid-1990s, before rising again at the end of the decade, largely because of the Kosovo crisis. Since then they have remained fairly steady in the 350,000 to 400,000 range per year.

"If you look at these statistics, you see very little support for the idea prevalent in several European countries: that they are being deluged by fraudulent asylum seekers, that – to quote the common mantra – 'the vast majority are bogus'," said Mr Colville. "These statements are themselves highly inaccurate and misleading."

The agency expressed concern that the current debate in Europe is getting considerably over-heated. Mr Colville added: "If this results in rushed policy- and law-making, it could have very dangerous results for future refugees, either in terms of gaining access to Europe at all, or in getting a fair hearing and decent treatment once they are here."

"It is wrong to paint the asylum seekers – and the large numbers of very deserving refugees among them – as the main element of the problem."