Schily Details Plans for Asylum Centers

German Interior Minister Otto Schily has added concrete details to his proposal to create asylum centers in northern Africa. Part of the plan, his spokesperson said, would involve "significantly extending" Europe's coastguard rescue services. In addition, Schily advised considering how best to erect "facilities" outside the EU where refugees could apply for asylum, before climbing into unsafe boats for dangerous transport across the Mediterranean. Schily's spokesperson added that refugees in the asylum centers would be guaranteed legal proceedings "in absolute security." In order to achieve this, the EU should form international agreements with African transit countries. Before the asylum centers were constructed, it would have to be clear that the terms of the Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees would apply, the Interior Ministry said.