Re: [A-List] Foreign Aid Stick

["Anne Williamson" <annewilliamson@xxxxxxx>]

UK supports aid to limit immigration


GÖRAN PERSSON - Swedish prime minister, criticized sharply the idea to link
development aid with the repatriation of illegal immigrants; an idea which
is supported by the UK, Spain and Denmark. (Photo: www.ue2001.se)
British home secretary, David Blunkett, will urge his EU counterparts today
to link aid for developing countries to their willingness to take back
failed asylum applicants or illegal immigrants. At a justice and interior
ministers' meeting in Luxembourg, Mr Blunkett is expected to put forward a
detailed set of proposals in order to improve the fight against the illegal
immigration.

Spanish prime minister José Maria Aznar, president in office of the European
Council said on Monday in Vienna the European Union is ready to sanction the
lack of cooperation of third countries in the area of immigration.

Mr Blunkett will stress that the EU has to solve the illegal immigration
problems at all levels, not just on the borders or within the EU. However,
he will also call on his counterparts to toughen up the policing of their
borders. One of the most important key points in his statement is that aid
measures are a vital part of "getting results on a common migration and
asylum policy across Europe," reports the Epolitix.com.

Today's meeting in Luxembourg will prepare the ground for the EU heads of
government meeting in Seville next week, as there the immigration policy
will be top of the agenda. Today the ministers will also discuss common visa
policy and co-ordination in managing external borders.

Nordic EU member states have different views on migration policy
The factious spirit over the illegal immigration policy was also discussed
in a meeting of the prime ministers of Denmark, Finland and Sweden. At their
meeting in Helsinki, the Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, gave
his support to the idea of linking the development funding with the
obligation to take back illegal immigrants.

Mr Rasmussen's point of view was criticized by his Swedish counterpart Göran
Persson, who according to the Helsingin Saonomat, stressed that in a
situation where immediate aid is needed, it is not sensible to focus on
these issues. Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen emphasized the
importance of the issue, but said that Finland has not taken the final stand
yet.

Written by Marit Ruuda
Edited by Lisbeth Kirk






Printet from EUobserver 14.06.2002
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