Risk assessment will determine rights

Asylum seekers applying for refugee status in the European Union
could be divided into two classes in the future, depending on the
risks they face in their home countries.

The EU Council of Ministers (justice and home affairs) adopted the
principle last week, under which people fearing persecution because
of their religion, nationality, race, political views or social
status, who think they cannot be protected by their own government,
would receive immigration, health and employment rights.

A secondary class of asylum seekers, including people fleeing
threats from drug traffickers or women scared of circumcision,
would attract a lower level of these rights.

Ministers agreed the criteria should be written into a proposed
directive on the granting and withdrawing of refugee status, which
is supposed to be approved by 1 May.