VIEWPOINT FROM LONDON

CROATIA AND EU ASYLUM SEEKERS

by Brian Gallagher

The Croatian Herald, Australia No. 972 - 27 June 2003

 

It appears that - despite denials - some form of asylum seekers camp has been seriously considered to be set up in Croatia to handle asylum seekers who wish to enter the UK or European Union. In this column of 30 May it was predicted that such camps would produce tremendous bad publicity for Croatia. Sadly, this has proved to be correct. At the same time, the whole concept has run into political trouble.

On Sunday 15 June Britain's top selling newspaper 'The Observer', ran a front-page story entitled "Secret Balkan camp for UK asylum seekers". The sub-headline ran as "Britain to ship refugees to Croatian army base for offshore processing". The story was highly critical of the entire idea of such camps. It was pointed out that these camps could present human rights concerns; i.e. is Croatia up to providing such standards? Furthermore, Croatia was firmly identified as a "Balkan" state. The article pointed out that this camp is the vanguard of a network of camps to be set up in "conflict regions".

This was a public relations disaster for Croatia. The Observer is a top selling newspaper in Britain, and this story glared out of every newsagent in the land. Other UK and international media picked up the story.

Croatia to many people must have come across as a 'conflict region' which cannot be trusted on human rights. Not a good advert for tourism. Or anything else. This proposed network is designed to be constructed outside of the EU - clearly Croatia is not joining the EU anytime soon.

The whole PR disaster could have been avoided; Croatia should not have got involved, regardless of any pressure. The bad publicity outweighs any possible advantage.

Many, not just in this column, pointed out the negative effects for Croatia hosting such a camp. The respected Hilda Foley of the Croatian American Society - and who is also media director of the National Federation of Croatian Americans - wrote in March and May to the Croatian president and government on the matter. She received no reply. Zagreb cannot say it was not warned. It seems the Croatian government went into this without any concern over the negative publicity for Croatia this would create - publicity that could harm Croatia's tourist trade.

However, the entire project has run into political problems. The Financial Times has stated that Tony Blair had to backtrack on these plans. Countries such as Germany and Sweden are none too keen on them. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has also criticised the plans. The UNHCR believes the EU should process its asylum seekers within the EU.

As for the camp in Croatia at Trstenik, it's now being claimed it's for asylum seekers to Croatia; but why is the EU involved in its construction? The EU involvement allows the UK to deny everything. It also allows for the camp's purpose to be conveniently changed at some point in the future to accommodate asylum seekers to the EU. They would claim it's a natural development, given the EU's role in its construction.

The UNHCR is right; the EU's asylum seekers should be dealt with in the EU. They should not be transferred to other countries. Croatia needs to develop an image of a peaceful, stable country - not one involved in negative controversies such as this. Croatia should ensure that it stays out of these UK/EU asylum plans. Otherwise it can look forward to more bad headlines in the European press.

 

© Brian Gallagher

My 'Viewpoint from London' column appears fortnightly in the Australian 'Croatian Herald'.