Pusić: "Croatian society at a higher level of openness and freedom"

Details

Hits: 997

Siniša Rodin from Law Faculty of University in Zagreb, spoke on the topic of asylum, return and extradition. Talking about the problem of immigration, Rodin stated that there are numerous standards that Croatia needs to adopt, so-called directive on the return and extradition to third countries. It is needed to reduce xenophobia and emphasize the benefits of immigration, as well as intellectual shift.

"It is necessary to stop thinking about immigration solely as a problem. There is a clash between local and national interests against the European interests, about which among other are talking European convention on the protection of the rights of asylum seekers, and the Geneva Conventions. Directive must be adopted and implemented in the Croatian legislation. Through the aforementioned European directive the possibility of exercising the right in any Member State of the EU is created", said Rodin.

Basic obligations of the directive are substantive and procedural rights that state must respect. This is the aforementioned example that EU member state should not extradited to a third country an asylum seeker if he is threatened by inhuman treatment or even loss of life in that country. Many EU countries at issue of immigration and asylum have a problem with a legal question. Specifically, there are institutions that regulate asylum and those that regulate extradition. Given that there is a communication problem between two branches of jurisdiction, the whole situation about extradition becomes complicated", continued Rodin.

Speaking about the practice of the courts Rodin noted that the practice of the Croatian courts has selective sequences. For example, if a person has had a public speech in some country, and for that speech is doomed, and there is the possibility of "beating" in prison, the Republic of Croatia may not extradite him to a third country. Croatian courts, unfortunately focus on some other things - citizenship or similar patterns. Asylum may be an obstacle to the extradition, and that can not be seen in Croatia.

"Extradition has an advantage over asylum, although it should not be that way. But it should be substantially analyzed. A tremendous effort was spent in Croatian institutions to edit immigration and asylum policy, however, the work has not yet been completed", concluded Siniša Rodin.

Goranka Lalić Novak spoke of the right of asylum in practice, respectively on the methods to restrict access to asylum system.

She stressed the access to physical territory, as Croatia does not allow asylum in embassies or consulates, then non-refoulement to a country where asylum seekers are at risk on account of whom are seeking asylum, bans punishment for their illegal entry or residence, access to the procedure for determining refugee status - acceptance of Intent , avoiding the limitation of freedom of movement of asylum-seekers, and respect for fundamental human rights and human dignity.

She also mentioned the methods of restricting access to asylum system, referring to visa policies, carrier sanctions, agreements on the return, interception on land and sea, and rejection of, or failure to recognize the intent to seek asylum.

"Access to the procedure for determining refugee status depends on identifying of the police officer that the person is seeking asylum. It is a police officer at the time the key person for not accepting or not recognizing intention for asylum", said Lalić Novak.

"If we wish well for ourselves, greater well-being and faster social development, we need to create the conditions under which foreigners will want to come to us. We must give them good opportunities to act and allow them to feel comfortable here. This means that we, along with social and housing policy, actively seek to create a multicultural atmosphere and active assimilation. That would make us economically and culturally richer. If we are not able to do or not want to do so, then we block ourselves social development", concluded the head of 5th Department of CPP's Political Academy (Department of Public) and political analyst Davor Gjenero, who opened and moderated roundtable of Political Academy.