THE European Union’s incoming justice commissioner has raised the possibility that asylum status may be granted to a new category of migrant — the “environmental” refugee.

Rocco Buttiglione, who takes up his post in November, says that European asylum rules are unclear about how to deal with immigrants whose environment has been destroyed by natural catastrophes such as drought and famine in Africa.

The commissioner believes there are three possible solutions. “The first is to bring water back to the Sahara and this is better than to bring people to Europe,” he said in an interview. “Second, we can help neighbouring countries to absorb refugees. The third option is to bring them to Europe.”

Buttiglione, a conservative ally of Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, has urged the European parliament to launch a public debate. “I am not saying anyone from a poor country has the inborn right to emigrate to a rich country,” he said. “But I think there is an intermediate category. I wish to start a discussion because we need to have an answer.”

His comments were coolly received. Hans-Gert Poettering, leader of the European parliament’s centre-right group, said it was not up to Europe to solve all the world’s problems.

Timothy Kirkhope, the British Conservative spokesman on asylum in the parliament, was just as dismissive, saying: “It is morally suspect to invite or encourage people to move thousands of miles to places where there is little cultural compatibility, when issues should be dealt with in their countries.”

Buttiglione has already caused controversy by calling for asylum camps in North African countries such as Libya to weed out bogus asylum seekers before they reach Europe.

The suggestion may have been prompted by growing anxiety over immigration to Italy, the first port of call for many illegal immigrants crossing the Mediterranean.

His ideas could land him in trouble when he is grilled in October by MEPs deciding whether to approve his EU appointment.

“Refugee processing centres were previously rejected by the parliament,” said Graham Watson, leader of the parliament’s Liberal faction. He promised Buttiglione a “rocky ride” if he chose to argue about immigration.

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