* UNHCR says Danish measures are "affront" to refugees'
dignity
* New UNHCR head says Europe must not set up barriers for
refugees
* Urges EU to have a "coherent, coordinated response" to
crisis
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The U.N. refugee agency censured
Denmark on Thursday for measures that were an "affront" to
refugees' dignity as its new head urged Europe not to throw up
barriers to block a tide of asylum-seekers.
The UNHCR criticised Danish government proposals which would
make reunification of refugee families and acquisition of
refugee status more difficult.
In a document sent to the Danish government it zeroed in on
a measure allowing police to confiscate asylum seekers'
belongings worth more than $436 to help pay for their stay which
it described as "a deeply concerning response to humanitarian
needs" and "an affront to their dignity".
Filippo Grandi, an Italian diplomat who took over as U.N.
High Commissioner for Refugees this week, separately told a news
briefing that Europe must set an example by welcoming refugees
and not erecting barriers, while sharing the burden fairly
across the continent.
He singled out Germany, Turkey and Lebanon for praise for
giving asylum to huge numbers of Syrians and other refugees.
More than a million people fleeing wars in the Middle East
and Africa arrived in Europe in 2015, with Germany taking in the
most. Denmark has now imposed temporary checks on its border
after Sweden put in place controls to stop refugees moving
further north.
"If Europe had a coherent, coordinated response ... these
border reactions that sometimes are justified, like in the case
of Sweden by a huge arrival of people, wouldn't be happening,"
Grandi said.
"We will of course continue to say 'You manage your border
as you see necessary', but the right of people to seek asylum
should not be jeopardised. That's very, very important."
The European Union must implement its own agreement to
improve identification and registration of refugees in Greece
and Italy, relocate them equitably across the bloc, and provide
humane return for those whose claims are rejected, he said.
Grandi praised the welcoming stance of German Chancellor
Angela Merkel, who has come under much pressure to stem the
influx and who he said had made "a gesture of leadership"
towards the rest of Europe.
"Now if Europe starts setting limits, pushing back, erecting
barriers, being hostile, the rest of the world will follow, I
can tell you," he said.
The UNHCR would ask countries to take in more Syrian
refugees for resettlement at a March 30 conference, but has not
yet set a target.
Under the Danish government's proposals criticised by the
UNHCR, refugees will have to wait three years before applying to
reunify with families abroad.
The duration of temporary residence permits will be
shortened, forcing people to reapply, and refugees will be
accepted on the basis of their "integration potential" rather
than their status solely as refugee.
Most controversial of the measures is that police will have
the right to take away belongings and valuables worth more than
3,000 Danish crowns ($436.89) to help fund their stay in
Denmark.
($1 = 6.8667 Danish crowns)