Asylum: refugee status for third-country nationals and stateless persons, minimum standards

During the debate which preceded the adoption of the report drafted by Mrs J LAMBERT, Commissioner Antonio VITORINO defended the stance according to which applicants for subsidiary protection are put on a more equal footing with refugee status applicants and providing for better guarantees and integration opportunities. In fact, in all the Member States, a majority of asylum seekers needing international protection are not covered by the Geneva Convention but rather by international agreements on subsidiary protection. If this issue does not enter into the scope of the Directive, there will be a continuity of undesirable practices. The Commissioner was, however, reticent to accept the inclusion of new principles and definitions concerning the granting of asylum. He believes that new provisions would undermine the Geneva Convention. In addition, the Parliament's proposals relating to more generous guarantees should be covered other Directives. �