How Is The EU Reacting To Refugees And Immigrants From Iraq?

The number of refugees seeking to escape the daily violence and carnage in Iraq by finding a new life in the European Union has been steadily increasing over the years. There are currently approximately 4 million Iraqi refugees, but of this number nearly half have fled to neighbouring, or nearby countries, such as Jordan, Syria, Iran and Lebanon. In 2006, only 20,000 Iraqis received refugee status in EU member states. This number, however, is expected to increase very significantly in 2007 and 2008, as a large wave of immigrants seek asylum in the EU.

The EU has fairly strict immigration and refugee controls in place and only 10% of all requests are actually accepted. The UN, however, has called on EU member states to make an exception in terms of the Iraqis and to fast track their applications. Nevertheless, it is highly unlikely that the EU will open its gates and there are plans in place to provide Iraqis with monetary assistance instead, of up to 18 million euros. Most of this money would go to countries in the Middle East that have taken in the most Iraqis, while part of the money would be given to those EU member states that have chosen to accept Iraqi immigrant and refugee claims.