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BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union will not be adopting Australia's migration methods despite Prime Minister Tony Abbott's claim that some Europeans are seeking policy advice.
The EU's executive Commission says Canberra does not respect the international standard on protecting refugees of "non-refoulement," which is a U.N. principle prohibiting expulsion to a country where they could face violence or prison.
Commission migration spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said Monday that the EU "applies the principle of non-refoulement — we have no intention of changing this — so of course the Australian model can never be a model for us."
Australia's migration model was widely cited in debate at the European Parliament last week, as the EU struggles to cope with thousands of migrants seeking to enter Europe via Libya.
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