Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees Reception Conditions for Asylum Seekers in Europe materials for a better practice The Information and Cooperation Forum (ICF) Presents: Cross-border asylum network

Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees ICF: NGOs from Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia Targets:  improvement of reception conditions in the Member States of the European Union  cooperation, qualification, lobbying Issues:  accommodation  social benefits (including withdrawal and Dublin II cases)  medical care  access to labour and education / training  social work and social counselling  freedom of movement  participation of refugees

Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees The EU Council Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003 on Minimum Standards of Reception Conditons for Asylum Seekers  the implementation: harmonisation or downgrading?  why improvement of reception conditions?

Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees 1. Social Counselling*  in need for professional assistance  the EU Council Directive 2003/9/EC on social counselling –Exception? - asylum seekers in detention *Under the ICF lead agency of Asylkoordination Austria

Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees 2. The Tasks of Social Counselling  counselling regarding the asylum procedure  social counselling  monitoring  assistance to integration  supporting the acceptance of refugees in the receiving country

Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees 3.Conditions for a competent social assistance  accessability of services  social assistance in the reception facility  proportionality of social assistance regarding the numbers of asylum seekers  comprehension and communication

Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees 4. Perspectives  counselling and assistance is often limited by legal restrictions imposed on asylum seekers  assistance towards a legal status and integration into the host society decreases and is soon to be outrun by return counselling

Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees 5.Recommendations  counselling should start at the very beginning an asylum seeker enters a country and the procedure  access to counselling has to be granted  reception is an obligation to the state. NGOs can play an important role to facilitate reception and integration into the host society  free access to all sorts of reception centres has to be granted to UNHCR and NGOs for monitoring the reception conditions  counselling and assistance has to be in the sole interest of the asylum seekers.  assistance has to meet professional standards and qualifications  the number of staff for counselling and assistance has to match the demand of clients.

Cross-border cooperation is our way to take responsibility for refugees THANK YOU! For further information please contact