Press Release: First Directive on asylum adopted

The Directive setting norms for temporary protection of refugees in the event of a mass influx of displaced people was formally adopted on 20 July 2001. Its purpose is to enable the European Union to act in situations involving a mass influx of displaced people (such as those from Kosovo in 1999 or Bosnia in the mid-90's) by triggering an immediate protection mechanism; it will also give access to the financial resources of the European Refugee Fund. The deal was made on the basis of a Commission proposal dated 24 May 2000 (see IP/00/518), which went through intensive negotiations in the Council, in particular under the Swedish Presidency. The European Parliament gave its opinion on 13 March 2001.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/justice_home/unit/immigration_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/comm/justice_home/unit/immigration_en.htm

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/01/518&format=HTML&rapid=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/01/518&format=HTML&rapid=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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