Est. 2min 20-06-2002 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram As European leaders prepare tough measures to better protect Europe’s borders and crack down on people trafficking, the UN fears that EU measures might contravene international conventions. Issues relating to immigration and asylum will be the first topic discussed at the Seville Summit. The Spanish Presidency expects the leaders to adopt new initiatives to improve fight against illegal immigration, and achieve coordinated and integrated management of the EU’s external borders. The Presidency also wants the EU to adopt new ways of integrating immigration policy in the Union’s relations with third countries, and to accelerate the legislative work required to define a common asylum and immigration policy. The General Affairs Council agreed on 17 June that “an all-encompassing and balanced approach on migration issues” has to be integrated into the EU’s co-operation with partner countries through existing or future agreements. The Spanish Presidency has proposed that co-operation should consist of improving border controls in the countries of origin and clamping down on people trafficking gangs. The Presidency also wants the countries of origin to agree to take back their citizens if they are denied asylum in the EU. These conditions would be enshrined as conditionality clauses in any future EU trade or co-operation agreements with non-EU members. The proposal was supported by all the Member States except France, Sweden and Luxembourg. The other 12 Member States agreed that countries which refused to co-operate with the EU in limiting illegal immigration could be punished with the suspension of development aid. They believe that development aid should be used to persuade would-be migrants to stay in their home countries. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions The Commission President, Romano Prodi,has sounded a note of caution concerning the Member States immigration plans. He stated that the EU's war on illegal immigration should not harm the integration of the immigrants who have already settled in Europe. In a letter to the Spanish Prime Minister, José Maria Aznar, Mr Prodi backed the plans to adopt measures against illegal immigration at the Summit, underlining that "immigration-related issues have increasingly become, in the eyes of the majority of our citizens, associated with questions of security". However, he warned that the EU should also ensure a "harmonious integration of our existing immigrant population". The Commission President said that the EU should be tough on illegal immigration and the trafficking of human beings "because this is a crime and an affront to human rights". "But legal immigration is good for Europe. It is a source of vitality and energy which ageing Europe needs," he added. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson,expressed concern about the EU's plans to crack down on illegal immigration. She said she feared the EU might adopt measures that would not adhere to international conventions. She urged EU leaders to take into account the latest figures which show that numbers of people seeking asylum were declining. Mrs Robinson was particularly critical of the EU's plans to sanction developing countries which refused to cooperate in the fight against illegal migration. AEGEE, the European Students Forum,expresses support for the harmon isation of the EU immigration policies, and sees several benefits of this process. However, the organisation warned of a risk of strengthening the EU anti-immigration policies, both for asylum seekers as well as other immigrants. "We believe such steps, often based on populist factors, will have a negative impact on the European economy, society as well as Europe's external relations," said AEGEE. It called for integration policies for immigrants. BackgroundThe Seville Summit of 21-22 June 2002 is expected to give new impetus to the plans to create a common EU asylum and immigration policy, which was first announced at the 1999 Tampere Summit, based on the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty. However, there has been little progress in this area since 1999 due to high national sensitivities. The Member States have come close to an agreement on joint management of the EU's external borders, but disagreed on proposals to impose economic and political sanctions against countries of origin of illegal immigration. Around 500,000 illegal immigrants enter the EU every year, and the Union would like to co-ordinate efforts to control migration flows. TimelineThe Seville Summit (21-22 June 2002) is expected to adopt a package of measures to stem out illegal immigration, improve border controls and prevent people trafficking. It should also make steps towards a common EU immigration and asylum policy.
