European Council on Refugees and Exiles
DESCRIPTION
EU wants to reduce protection of refugees (en)
see also: Obersavtions of ECRE (en)
Additional ECRE-observations (en)
Strategiepapier des österreichischen Ratsvorsitzes zu Migration und Asylpolitik – ECRE Stellungnahme (de)
Strategy paper on immigration and asylum policy – Note from Presidency (en)
Heftige Kritik an Asyl-Vorschlägen aus Österreich – Frankfurter Rundschau
Europäischer Flüchtlingsrat (ECRE)
European Council on Refugees and Exiles ECRE (en)
ECRE Internetseiten (en)
FORUM FOR COOPERATION
THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON REFUGEES AND EXILES (ECRE) is an organisation which was established in 1974 as a forum for cooperation between some 60 non governmental organisations in Europe which work in the field of protection and assis tance to refugees and asylum seekers. The member organisations of ECRE are concerned with the needs of individuals who seek asylum in Europe, and they also aim to encourage the development of a com prehensive European approach to the global refugee problem.
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
ECRE works through joint analysis, research and information exchange and stimulates the development of networking activities. The organisation produces policy analyses and works with European institutions and the UNHCR to promote its aims.
ADVOCACY
Since ist inception ECRE has advocated for fair and efficient procedures for the determination of refugee status, and it works to enhance the social and legal rights of refugees and asylum seekers. The organisation seeks to work with others to combat the manifestations of racism and xenophobia and to assert the human rights basis of European obligations in the field of asylum. ECRE seeks to relate European refugee policy with the needs of refugees elsewhere in the world and the requirements of international solidarity.
PAN-EUROPEAN
ECRE is intent upon becoming a pan-European organisation, open to and dealing with the concerns of refugee assisting non-governmental organisations from all parts of Europe.
BROAD RANGE OF MEMBERSHIP
ECRE members include all the national refugee councils in Western Europe, lay and church based assisting organisations, national branches of international organisations and other agencies dealing in human rights issues. The overall aims and activities are decided by ECRE agencies in Biannual General Meetings. An Executive Committee of senior agency representatives from several European re gions is charged with ensuring that these objectives and activities are realised. The Executive Committee advises the ECRE Secretariat which is headed by the General Secretary.
The Secretariat is based in London.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
ECRE’s financial resources derive from the contributions of its member agencies, and, for specific projects, ECRE has received funds from the UNHCR, the Council of Europe and the European Commission and from some foundations.
