Congress has approved a new Ley de Asilo (Asylum Act), which establishes a process to guarantee and reinforce the protection of women, children, disabled and homosexuals, but leaves out the citizens of the Europe Union.

The text of the new law regulating the right of asylum and subsidiary protection, which has been agreed by PSOE, PP and CiU, restores the possibility of seeking asylum in embassies and consulates, and ensures the presence of UNHCR in all stages of application process.

All groups have agreed on a new law that improves security and reduces the time and procedure for granting asylum, and ensuring the confidentiality of the process.

After defending the speakers, Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, expressed thanks and acknowledged that “the amended text is better than the original text proposed by the Government and we are satisfied”.