United Nations Radio

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, on Monday appealed to member states of the European Union (EU) to continue their efforts to build a coherent and effective common asylum system.

Addressing ministers responsible for asylum and migration in the 27 EU member States at the Ministerial Conference on Asylum in Paris, Guterres said that a common European asylum system could "serve as an example to the entire world" if it truly guarantees the protection of refugees.

Guterres called the effort to build a common European asylum system an "ambitious and unprecedented venture" and a "unique opportunity to strengthen refugee protection."

However, he stressed that the European Union must remain accessible for people seeking protection.

The high commissioner pointed to the need to ensure quality in asylum decision-making and to correct the wide disparities in the practice of member States.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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