The Hindu : Blair `upset' with E.U.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 26, 2002

International

International

Blair `upset' with E.U.

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON JUNE 25. In an unusual show of displeasure with his European Union partners, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has expressed disappointment that they have rejected his plans for a tougher approach to asylum.

Britain had been pushing for a proposal that would have meant blocking aid and trade agreements with countries with poor record on checking illegal immigration, but was forced to back down after it met with a sharp reaction from other E.U.countries at their summit in Seville, Spain, at the weekend. The move had also provoked a controversy at home after a senior Cabinet Minister, Clare Short, denounced it as `silly' and `morally repugnant'.

Mr. Blair, who has been attacked by the Tories for failing to carry the E.U. with him on the issue, admitted in Parliament on Monday that the measures agreed upon at the summit fell short of Britain's expectations. "It is absolutely correct that we would have gone further,'' he said adding that a number of other countries also wanted a harder approach but as there was no unanimity the summit settled for a compromise.

Mr. Blair's admission that Britain did not have its way fully at the summit was seen to be in contradiction with claims by the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, and the Europe Minister, Peter Hain, that it had got what it wanted. The Tory chief, Ian Duncan Smith, said the Seville summit had exposed Britain's alleged clout in E.U.

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Blair `upset' with E.U.