BRUSSELS, Dec 1, Reuters - The European Union executive on Wednesday proposes that Poland and its two Baltic neighbours handle migrants the West accuses Belarus of pushing to their shared border under quicker procedures that weakens protections for asylum seekers.
The EU accused Belarus of flying in thousands of people from the Middle East, and forcing them to cross into the bloc via Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, a route previously used by migrants. Belarus is dismissing the accusations.
According to sources familiar with the proposal, the Brussels-based EU Commission will allow the right to claim asylum, which is enshrined in international humanitarian law, be restricted to designated places such as chosen border points.
That would mean migrants would not be able to claim asylum wherever they reach the border and be required to walk many more kilometres through the forests, lakes and swamps that straddle the eastern rim of the EU and NATO.
Rights groups have criticised the anti-immigration government in Poland for refusing to give enough humanitarian aid and shelter in freezing conditions, due to increased arrivals by sending police, border guards and troops en masse to try to seal off the border.
The sources said that national authorities would have up to four weeks - rather than a maximum of 10 days currently envisaged in EU laws - to register asylum applications from people who made it to their territory.
They would be allowed to keep registered asylum seekers on their side of the border for up to 16 weeks while they analysed their request for protection while denying them the standing right to be held in more suitable centres inside the country.
The Commission would require only basic reception conditions such as food and water, medical care and assistance for the most vulnerable people - lower requirements than usual and not including education, among others.
It would allow for quicker deportations of failed asylum seekers, in another example of lowering safeguards for those who want to get into Europe.