By adopting the resolution by Mr Graham WATSON (ELDR, UK), the European Parliament approved the proposal together with several non-binding amendments designed to ensure that Member States adhere to the Geneva Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights and to reinforce Member States' option of adopting or retaining more favourable provisions and to ensure that the directive will not result in any reduction of existing legal protection for asylum seekers.
Other amendments concerned improving access to the asylum procedure, better legal and other assistance for asylum seekers during the procedure, the provision of information to applicant, the right to a personal interview, the suspensive effect of appeals, limiting the grounds for detention, stricter criteria for the designation of safe countries and reducing grounds on which applications for asylum may be determined to be manifestly unfounded.
The Parliament also states that those subject to a detention order shall be detained separately from convicted criminals or prisoners on remand and Member States shall ensure that detention is humane and respects fundamental rights of the individual including access to medical treatment and exercise of their religion. �