The Hindu : E.U. agrees to curb illegal immigration

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 23, 2002

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International

E.U. agrees to curb illegal immigration

SEVILLE (Spain) June 22. European leaders agreed today measures to turn back a tide of illegal immigrants, without going so far as to slap sanctions on the poor countries from which they come.

Wrapping up a two-day summit in Seville that was shaken by a string of bomb attacks in other parts of Spain, the leaders also reaffirmed that the European Union's planned 2004 enlargement into eastern Europe was firmly on track. "This common aim can be realised within the timeframe envisaged only if each candidate country adopts a realistic and constructive approach" in the final stages of accession talks, a draft version of the summit conclusions said.

Discussions were delayed today by more than an hour as the leaders took in the World Cup quarterfinal match between South Korea and Spain. And Seville braced itself for tens of thousands of demonstrators expected on the streets at the tail end of the summit.

Illegal immigration was the dominant issue for the E.U. leaders who met beneath the mosque-like dome of the Seville convention centre — an architectural reminder of the eight centuries, until 1492, when Muslims ruled much of Spain.

"We have reached a very balanced solution that clearly indicates that we want to limit and to channel immigration," Mr. Schroeder told a press conference. "You know, and I am not ashamed of it, that I would have liked to go further in the way of sanctions. But it was not do-able."

Spain, which passes the E.U. presidency to Denmark on July 1, and Britain had hoped to propose sanctions against poor countries that fail to co-operate with Europe on curbing illegal immigration. But they were forced to back down yesterday in the face of resistance led by the re-elected French President, Jacques Chirac, who argued that E.U. development aid was better used as a carrot, not as a stick.

Several other countries joined France and Sweden in criticising the notion of sanctions — notably Portugal, Belgium and Luxembourg. — AFP

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