Peter Van Krieken – författare

The Asylum Acquis Handbook is a unique and comprehensive tool for those who have a sincere interest in contributing to a sound, common European asylum policy. Asylum has always been an intensively debated topic, and these days even more so than in the recent past. Virtually everyone has an opinion on the subject and the general consensus is that the European Union should strive for a common asylum policy. Yet, basic information is lacking: while there is talk on an `acquis', talk on `communitarization', the various discussions, so far, miss the firm foundation on which to build the common European asylum house. The Asylum Acquis Handbook seeks to fill this gap and serves as an important reference book with in-depth information on asylum-related topics, including: + an overview of the Acquis + the texts of the various relevant instruments + value-free commentaries + informative contributions, especially written for this Handbook by leading experts, and + additional information and sources.Noteworthy is the Preface with relevant parts of a thought-provoking keynote address, delivered by Antonio Vitorino, EU Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, at the 4th Metropolis Conference, Washington DC, December 1999. The Asylum Acquis Handbook enhances accessibility and transparency and will become an important source for policy makers, the executive, the media, students and all others concerned with the issue of asylum. Dr. Peter van Krieken's extensive UNHCR background, his role as special advisor on international affairs with the Netherlands Ministry of Justice/INS and his lecturing in international law and human rights at Webster University, Leiden, the Netherlands, made him the most suitable expert to compile and edit the Asylum Acquis Handbook. Dr. Van Krieken is actively involved in European asylum policy issues under CIREA, Phare assessment missions and related Twinning, Odysseus and Horizontal Programmes. He is also the editor of the book Refugee Law in Context: The Exclusion Clause, which was recently published by T.M.C.Asser Press.

The North is being increasingly confronted with a new phenomenon of migration: the so-called 'health tourism' of irregular migrants. One can already recognize a tendency among would-be migrants who either overstay their visas, or arrive under the pretext of being asylum-seekers, to come to the North with the intention of receiving medical treatment, in particular complicated surgery or other expensive forms of treatment, which they cannot get in their countries of origin, certainly not free of charge. Moreover, many others use 'illness' as a pretext or a reason for not being returned, or to obtain leave of stay. In this respect one needs to take into account that public health services in most Western European and North American countries are already overloaded as a consequence of modern medical developments, but also in view of the general increase in the percentage of old people among the population. Inmany countries there are long waiting lists for non-urgent operations and contributions to health systems have to be constantly increased in order to cover the extensive costs of modern medical treatment.

Europe has finally started to debate migration. A timely debate indeed, as many migrants have over the last 30 years entered the European Union without the cover of a proper and well-defined policy. Many arguments are being put forward in this respect: Europe faces a shortage of labour, not enough children are being born, future pension bills can not be met, globalization should result in accepting aliens, and so on. Yet, hardly any effort has been undertaken to put all such arguments into their proper context and to list what Europe and the European Union in particular have already agreed upon.This Migration Acquis Handbook (an equivalent to the Asylum Acquis Handbook fills the many gaps by providing: + an overview of EU instruments in an accessible and transparent manner, with the necessary division as per: entry, sojourn, integration and return; + due attention to EC Commissioner Vitorino's communication on migration and his call for a debate; + the reproduction of relevant non-European international (UN) instruments; + moreover, an overview of the context and contents of the most hotly-contested issues: ageing and demography, globalization, illegal migration, trafficking and family reunification. This Handbook describes and provides the foundation for a common European Migration Policy and should be considered an extremely useful tool, if not indispendable for the executive, students, policy makers, the media and all others interested in this exceedingly important topic. From the Preface by Dr.Rolf Jenny, Director of the Geneva-based International Migration Policy Programma (IMP) `We believe that this Handbook will significantly contribute to supporting and clarifying the ongoing debate on migration as Europe moves forward with the establishment of a common migration policy, based on co-operation and partnership with migrant source countries, equitable protection and treatment of third-country nationals, and best practices in migration management.We also believe that the Handbook will contribute to a better overall understanding of the migration challenges at hand, and the gradual development of a 'common language in migration' among those who, from often differing perspectives, deal with the matter in sending, transit and receiving countries.'