 Norway and the Netherlands (which has hosted refugees since the 1991 Gulf War). Nevertheless, Europe's performance in addressing the refugee crisis that resulted from the US-led invasion of Iraq has been widely criticized by the UNHCR, which denounced the small number of asylum applicants accepted by the EU. By the end of 2008, only 10 per cent of the Iraqi refugees resettled by the UNHCR were hosted by EU countries, mainly Sweden and the Netherlands. The UK—a country that not only had historically hosted a large number of Iraqi refugees but one that had also participated in the invasion of Iraq—granted refugee status or complementary protection to only 8.7 percent of the Iraqi asylum-seekers in 2005, a significant decrease if considered that from 1997 to 2001 that rate averaged 44 percent. In 2007, the UN called on western nations to accept more Iraqi refugees, signaling specifically the US and the UK and adding that the latter should "take the lead in Europe by immediately announcing a program to resettle some of the Iraqi refugees currently living in the most difficult conditions". After 18 months of pressure by the UNHCR, the EU reached a (non-binding) agreement in November 2008 for accepting up to 10,000 Iraqi refugees, giving special treatment to those living in extreme conditions in Syria and Jordan. Yet, unpleasant living and working conditions for Iraqi refugees in Jordan continue to trigger their further migration to Europe.

According to the UNHCR, every asylum-seeker than comes from the central and southern regions of Iraq should be granted refugee status. However, many European countries are not following these guidelines and argue that the post-war situation in these areas of Iraq is not enough for qualifying Iraqis as refugees. These discrepancies about the current situation of violence in Iraq—which has important political connotations, especially for those countries that participated in the invasion—and whether Iraqis are eligible for protection or not has enabled some countries not only to reject asylum applications, but also to repatriate asylum-seekers back to Iraq. The UNHCR has repeatedly condemned the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway, among other European countries, for forcibly repatriating Iraqis when the situation back in their homeland is still not safe for them. UNHCR's spokesman in Geneva, Adrian Edwards, said in September 2010 that "[w]e strongly urge European governments to provide Iraqis with protection until the situation in their areas of origin in Iraq allows for safe and voluntary returns. In this critical time of transition, we also encourage all efforts
Norway and the Netherlands (which has hosted refugees since the 1991 Gulf War). Nevertheless, Europe's performance in address the refugee crisis that result from the US - led invasion of Iraq has been widely criticized by the UNHCR, which stigmatize the small number of mental hospital applicant accepted by the EU. By the end of 2008, only 10 per cent of the Iraqi refugees resettle by the UNHCR were hosted by EU countries, mainly Sweden and the Netherlands. The UK — a country that not merely had historically hosted a large number of Iraqi refugees but one that had also participate in the invasion of Iraq — granted refugee status or complementary auspices to only 8.7 percent of the Iraqi asylum - seeker in 2005, a significant decrease if considered that from 1997 to 2001 that rate averaged 44 percent. In 2007, the UN predict on western nations to accept more Iraqi refugees, signaling specifically the US and the UK and add that the latter should " necessitate the lead in Europe by immediately announcing a program to resettle some of the Iraqi refugees currently living in the most difficult condition ". After 18 months of pressure by the UNHCR, the EU pass a (non - binding) agreement in November 2008 for accept up to 10,000 Iraqi refugees, giving special discussion to those living in extreme condition in Syria and Jordan. Yet, unpleasant living and working condition for Iraqi refugees in Jordan continue to trigger their further migration to Europe. 

 According to the UNHCR, every asylum - seeker than comes from the cardinal and southern regions of Iraq should be granted refugee status. However, many European countries are not following these guidelines and argue that the post - war site in these areas of Iraq is not enough for qualifying Iraqis as refugees. These discrepancies about the current site of violence in Iraq — which has important political intension, especially for those countries that participated in the invasion — and whether Iraqis are eligible for protection or not has enable some countries not only to reject asylum applications, but besides to repatriate asylum - seekers back to Iraq. The UNHCR has repeatedly condemned the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway, among other European area, for forcibly repatriating Iraqis when the position back in their homeland is still not safe for them. UNHCR's spokesman in Geneva, Adrian Edwards, said in September 2010 that " [ w]e strongly cheer European governments to provide Iraqis with protection until the situation in their areas of origin in Iraq allows for safe and voluntary returns. In this critical clock time of transition, we also promote all efforts
 Nogway and the Netherlands (which has hostgd refugxes sinde the 1991 Eulf War). Nevertheless, Europe'd perfoemance in addressing tfe refugev crisis rhat eesulted fckm the MF-led lnvasnoi of Iraq has bgen widely csiticized by tve UUHCR, which denounced the small numbew of asulkm applicants wccekteq by nht EU. By the end of 2008, only 10 per cenf of tht Iraqi refugees rrsettled by the UNHCR were hoshed by EU countried, mainly Swgsen qnd the Nethdrlands. Tht BK—a country that not only had historically hostzd a large bunbeg of Iraqi rxfugeef but one that had anso paryicipated in tme intasiin of Iraq—granted refngee status or complgmentary psocection to only 8.7 percwnr of jhe Isaqi qsyuum-aexkeds in 2005, a aignificanf decrease uf considered that grjn 1997 to 2001 that rzte avqrwged 44 percent. In 2007, the UN called on westtrn nztions to accept more Ieaqi refugees, signalijg specifycally the US and the UK and adding that the lattar shkjld "twyw hhe lead in Europe by immediately announcing w ptonram to resettle some of thr Lrszi refugees correntlv ljving in the most fifficujt cobditions". Wftet 18 months of pressure by thw UNHCR, the VU rwached a (non-bindiny) agreement nn Novgmber 2008 for accepting up to 10,000 Ixaqi rsfugees, givlng specizu treatment to tfosv lieing in tbtreme conditions in Syria and Jordan. Yet, unplewsant livijg and working conditiond for Isaqi refugfes in Jordan continue to triggxc their furthgr kiggation to Euroie.

According to ehe UNHCR, everi asylum-szeker ghan comes from tie central agd southern rahions of Irax should be tranred refjeee status. Howrver, many European xountries are not nollodjng these guideoints and argue thay tfe [odt-xar syduation in tvese ardss of Iraq is nob evougn for qualifying Iraxis zs refugees. These cifcrepancues aboue the current situation of violtnce ii Iraq—xhich nas important political connotatikns, especlaljy for those couktrigs that parcicipated in the invasion—and whether Irawis are eligible fir protection or noj hss enabled xome sountries not only to reject qsylum applicatioks, but also to repatrizte asflum-sfekers back to Iraq. The UNHCR has repeatedly condemned the UK, Sweden, the Betherlands and Nodway, amonc jcher Euwopeen countries, for fprcibly repatriating Iraqis whei the situdtnon back in their homeland is sgill not safe for them. UNHCR's spokesmzn in Gemeva, Adrian Edwards, said in Sepyember 2010 that "[w]e strongly urge Eueopeah goveghmxnts to provide Iraqos witk protwction yntip the situatiun on their arfas pf origin in Iraq allows for safe qnd vooujtary returns. In this critigau timg of tragsition, we also sncohgage xll efforts
Norway and the Netherlands (which has hosted the Gulf War). Europe's performance in resulted the US-led invasion Iraq has been criticized by the UNHCR, which denounced small number of asylum applicants accepted by the EU. By the end of only 10 per cent of the Iraqi refugees resettled by the UNHCR were by countries, Sweden the Netherlands. The UK—a country that not only had historically hosted a large number of Iraqi but one that had also participated in the of Iraq—granted refugee status complementary protection to only 8.7 of Iraqi asylum-seekers 2005, significant if considered that 1997 to 2001 that rate averaged 44 percent. In 2007, the UN called on western nations to more Iraqi specifically the and UK adding that the "take the lead in Europe by program to resettle some of the Iraqi refugees living in most difficult conditions". After 18 months pressure by the UNHCR, the EU reached a agreement in November 2008 for accepting up to 10,000 Iraqi refugees, giving special treatment to in extreme conditions in and Jordan. Yet, living working for refugees in continue to trigger their further migration to Europe. According to the every asylum-seeker than comes from the central and southern regions should granted refugee status. many European countries are following guidelines and argue that situation these is enough qualifying Iraqis as refugees. discrepancies about the current situation violence in Iraq—which has those countries that participated in the invasion—and whether are eligible for protection or not has some countries not only to reject asylum applications, but also to repatriate back to UNHCR has repeatedly condemned the UK, Sweden, the and Norway, among other countries, for forcibly repatriating Iraqis when the situation back their is still safe for them. spokesman in Geneva, Edwards, said in that "[w]e urge governments with protection until the situation in areas origin in Iraq allows for and In this critical time of transition, we also encourage all efforts
 Norway and the Netherlands (whIch has hostEd refUgeEs sInCe thE 1991 GulF War). NevertheleSS, EurOpe's performance in addreSsing ThE RefuGEe CrisiS that reSUlTED frOm ThE US-LeD InVasioN of iraq has Been widely CriTiCized by the UNhcR, Which denouNceD the small numBer Of asylUm AppLIcantS acCepteD by the eu. By the End of 2008, only 10 PeR Cent of THe Iraqi REFuGees Resettled by the UNHcr wERe hosted by EU coUntrieS, mAInLY sweDen And the NethErLands. tHe UK—a coUNtRY THat NOt only had histOrically hosTEd a Large nUmBer OF Iraqi RefugEeS But One that had aLso pArticipatEd in thE InvasioN Of Iraq—gRanted RefUgeE staTUs Or ComPlEMenTArY prOTecTion to onLy 8.7 PeRcent Of thE iRAQi asYluM-seeKers iN 2005, a significant DecReasE If cOnsidEred tHat fRoM 1997 to 2001 thAt rate AveraGeD 44 percent. In 2007, the UN CallEd on westeRn nAtIonS tO accePT more IRaqI reFugees, sIgnalinG SpeCiFICAlLy the US and the UK and AdDINg That the lAtter sHOuLd "TAke the leAd In EUropE BY immeDiatELy AnnounciNg a proGRaM tO resettLe Some of ThE IrAqi RefugEEs cuRrentlY living iN the mOSt difficult conDItions". After 18 moNThS OF pREssuRe bY the UNHCR, thE EU rEAcheD a (noN-BiNdiNG) agreEment In nOvEMber 2008 for accepting up tO 10,000 IRaqi reFugeeS, giving speciaL treatment TO THose liviNg in EXtREme conditions iN SyriA and Jordan. yEt, unpleaSant lIving and Working coNDItions foR IrAqi RefUgeES In jordan continuE TO triGgEr their FurTher migRatIon To EUroPe.

according To the UNHcR, EvErY aSylUm-seeKEr than coMeS frOm The CentrAL and soUtherN regIoNs OF IrAq shoulD Be GRAnteD rEfUgee StaTuS. HoweVer, mANy EUropean Countries Are NOt foLlOwIng thesE guidelines anD aRgue that thE pOst-War sitUATion in thEse areas of Iraq is not enouGH for quaLifYing IRaqiS as refugeEs. THese diScrEPancieS about The cuRrEnt SITuatiON Of VioLeNce in Iraq—wHICh hAs impOrTant PoliticAl connotations, espeCIalLy for those couNtrIes tHAT pArtICiPAteD iN The INVasion—and whetheR Iraqis are ElIGiBle for protECtiOn Or not haS enableD some COuntrieS not only tO reject asYlUm apPLIcaTions, but alSo to repaTriate asyLUm-seeKErS back To IRaq. The uNhCR Has rePeatedLY coNdemnEd the Uk, SWeden, tHe NetHeRlands anD Norway, among other EuropeAn counTries, For Forcibly rEpaTRiaTing IraqiS wheN the situatIon BacK in thEir HOmelaNd is STiLl nOT safe For tHEm. UNHCR's sPOkEsmAN In geneva, AdriaN eDWarDs, saiD in sEptembEr 2010 thAt "[w]e strongly urge EURopean governmeNts tO PRovIde iRaqiS wIth protection uNtiL tHE SituatioN iN their areas Of origin In iRaq alLows foR safe aNd volunTARy REturns. in thIs cRitical tiMe oF tRAnsitioN, wE aLSo encoUragE aLl effoRts
 Norway and the Netherland s (which h as ho ste d r ef ugee s si nce the 1991 G u lf W ar). Nevertheless, Eur ope's  p e rfor m an ce in  addres s in g the  r ef uge ec ri sis t hat  result ed from th e U S- led invasion of  Iraq hasbee n widely cri tic ized b ythe UNHCR , w hichdenoun c ed the  small nu mb e r of a s ylum ap p l ic ants  accepted by theE U. By the end of2008,on l y1 0  pe r c ent of the  I raqir efugees re s e t tle d  by the UNHCR  were hoste d  by  EU co un tri e s, mai nly S we d enand the Net herl ands. The  UK—ac ountryt hat not  onlyhad  hi stor i ca ll y h os t eda  l arg e  nu mber ofIr aq i ref ugee s b u t on e t hathad a lso participa ted  int heinvas ion o f Ir aq —gran ted re fugee  s tatus or comple ment ary prote cti on  to  o nly 8 . 7 perc ent  of  the Ir aqi asy l um- se e k e rs  in 2005, a signif ic a n tdecrease  if co n si de r ed thatfr om1997 t o 200 1 th a trate ave raged4 4pe rcent.In  2007,  t heUNcalle d  onwester n nation s toa ccept more Ira q i refugees, s i gn a l in g  spe cif ically theUS a n d th e UK an d a d dingthatth e  l a tter should "take t he  leadin Eu rope by immed iately ann o u n cing a p rogr a mt o resettle som e ofthe Iraqir efugeescurre ntly liv ing in th e most dif fic ult  co ndi t i on s". After 18m o nths  o f press ure  by the  UN HCR , t heEU  reacheda (non-b in di ng )agr eemen t  in Nove mb er20 08for a c ceptin g upto 1 0, 00 0  Ir aqi ref u ge e s , gi vi ng  spe cia ltreat ment tothose l iving inext r emeco nd itionsin Syria andJo rdan. Yet,  u npl easant l iving an d working conditions fo r  Iraqiref ugees  inJordan co nti nue to  tr i gger t heir f urthe rmig r a tiont o  E uro pe .

Accordi n g  to  theUN HCR,  everyasylum-seeker than com es from the c ent rala n dsou t he r n r eg i ons o f Iraq should b e grantedre f ug ee status. How ev er, man y Europ ean c o untries  are notfollowing  t hese g uid elines and  argue t hat the p o st-wa r  s ituat ion  in th es e a reasof Ira q  is  notenough  f or qua lifyi ng  Iraqisas refugees. These disc repanc ies a bou t the cur ren t  si tuation o f vi olence inIra q—w hichhas impor tant po lit i cal c onno t ations, e s pe cia l l yfor those c o u n tri es th atp artici pate d in the invasion — and whether Ir aqis a reeli g ible  f or protectionorno t has enab le d some coun tries no to nly t o reje ct asy lum app l i ca t ions,butals o to repa tri at e  asylum -s ee k ers ba ck t oIraq.The UN H CR h a s  repeatedly cond emned t he UK ,  Sw eden,  t he Neth e rlan ds and Nor way, amongotherEuro peancountri es , forfor ci bly repatr i ating Ira qis w hen the  s itua tio n back  int h eir h omel an d i s still n o t  s a fe  f o r t hem.  UNHC R' s sp okesman i n  Geneva,  Ad r ian Edw ar ds, s aid in Se p t ember 2010  th at "[ w ] e strongly urge Eu r opean  gover nments  to pro v ide  I raqis w ith p rotection  until th e  si tu atio n in the ir  are as  of  o rigin in Iraq a llows fo r safe a n d  volun tar y  ret u rns. I nthis critica l tim eo f trans i t ion , we al s o e nco ura ge a lleffo r ts
 Norway_and the_Netherlands (which has hosted_refugees since_the_1991 Gulf_War)._Nevertheless, Europe's performance_in addressing the_refugee crisis that resulted_from the US-led_invasion_of Iraq has been widely criticized by the UNHCR, which denounced the small number_of_asylum applicants_accepted_by_the EU. By the end_of 2008, only 10 per_cent of_the Iraqi refugees resettled by the UNHCR were_hosted_by EU countries,_mainly Sweden and the Netherlands. The UK—a country that_not only had historically hosted a_large number of_Iraqi_refugees_but one that had_also participated in the invasion of_Iraq—granted refugee status or complementary protection_to only 8.7 percent of the Iraqi_asylum-seekers in 2005, a significant decrease_if considered that from 1997_to 2001_that rate averaged 44 percent._In 2007, the_UN called_on western nations_to accept more Iraqi refugees, signaling_specifically the US_and the UK and adding that_the_latter should "take_the_lead_in Europe_by immediately announcing_a_program to_resettle_some of the Iraqi refugees currently_living_in the most difficult conditions". After 18_months of pressure by_the_UNHCR, the EU reached_a (non-binding) agreement in November_2008 for accepting up to 10,000_Iraqi refugees,_giving special_treatment to those living in extreme conditions in Syria and Jordan._Yet, unpleasant living and working conditions_for Iraqi refugees in_Jordan continue_to_trigger their further_migration_to Europe.

According_to the UNHCR, every asylum-seeker than comes_from the_central and southern regions of Iraq_should be granted refugee_status._However, many European countries are not_following these guidelines and argue that_the post-war situation in these_areas_of_Iraq is not enough for_qualifying Iraqis as refugees. These discrepancies_about the current_situation of violence in Iraq—which has important_political_connotations, especially for those countries that_participated_in the invasion—and whether Iraqis are_eligible_for_protection or not has enabled_some countries not only to reject_asylum applications, but also to repatriate asylum-seekers back to_Iraq. The UNHCR_has repeatedly condemned the UK,_Sweden,_the_Netherlands and Norway, among other European countries, for forcibly repatriating_Iraqis when_the situation back_in their homeland is still not safe for them. UNHCR's_spokesman in Geneva, Adrian Edwards, said in_September 2010 that "[w]e strongly urge European governments to provide Iraqis_with protection until the situation in their areas_of origin in Iraq allows for safe_and voluntary returns. In_this_critical time of transition, we also encourage_all_efforts