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

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the draft by Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA, UK) on minimum standards for refugees. (Please refer to the document dated 02/10/02.) In addition, Parliament made the following amendments: -Member States must provide for a system of penalties in the event of violation of the national provisions adopted by virtue of the Directive; -a new recital states that it is necessary to be vigilant with regard to the interpretation of the Directive. In particular, it is important not to give rise to regional interpretations of the Geneva Convention which in the end would be more restrictive than the interpretation currently given by the Member States; -applicants for asylum must be provided with all the necessary information. Member States must take special care to inform the members of a single family that they may submit separate applications for asylum; -the criteria for an internal flight alternative are specified; -the decision of cessation of refugee status will be notified in writing. The notification must indicate the means of appeal open to the person concerned and the time limits within which he can take such action; -as far as subsidiary protection is concerned, the onus is one the Member State to prove that a person no longer needs international protection for one of the prescribed reasons; -there must be a right of appeal against the decision to withdraw subsidiary protection status; -a residence permit for a person with subsidiary protection status must be valid for at least five years and automatically renewable; -the date for transposition is changed to 30 June 2003, instead of 30 April 2004.�