Posted on 06/21/2002 2:55:08 PM PDT by spald
EU Leaders Agree on Immigration Steps By ROBERT WIELAARD
SEVILLE, Spain (AP)--European Union leaders vowed Friday to curb immigration but held off on punishing poor nations that do not stop their citizens from seeking illegal work in Europe. The leaders at the summit in Seville, some of whom slipped away to watch World Cup games, said they would create order in the hodgepodge of national immigration and asylum laws, and move toward a more equal treatment across the region. They also would seek ``cooperation and partnership'' accords to reward nations that curb the movement of illegals to Europe, said Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique. The renewed commitment to cut the flow of illegal immigrants comes after recent successes by far-right and populist parties across Europe whose anti-immigrant platforms struck a chord with voters. French President Jacques Chirac called for a ``humanist and balanced approach,'' telling the summit the EU must ``reward, rather than punish'' poor nations. If that fails, Pique said later, the EU reserves the right to decide ``whether or not there should be consequences'' for those countries. Britain, Italy and Spain preferred to link development aid for poor countries to cooperation in curbing illegal immigration to western Europe, but the Scandinavian nations, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria resisted that, officials said. The summit was held under heavy security, with Spanish army and air force units on high alert. Police sealed off the summit site, a sprawling convention complex in this southern Spanish city. Hours before the summit opened, the Basque separatist group ETA was blamed for a car bomb in the Mediterranean resort of Fuengirola, 100 miles from Seville. A second car bomb, also believed to be ETA's work, went off later in the nearby resort of Marbella. The first blast, near a hotel, injured four Britons, a Spanish woman and a Moroccan. No one was injured in the second bombing. The summit started two hours late to allow British Prime Minister Tony Blair watch the England-Brazil World Cup soccer quarterfinal at his hotel. Blair said he was ``devastated'' by England's 2-1 loss. Later, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder went to the German delegation room to watch Germany beat the United States 1-0. The EU has a dubious track record in managing immigration. Despite repeated pledges in recent years to cooperate more, a single EU immigration and asylum policy has remained an elusive goal. Some 500,000 illegal immigrants enter the EU annually, in addition to almost 400,000 asylum seekers. Before coming here, Blair suggested aid be cut to countries that do not take illegal immigrants back or fail to prevent them from heading to Europe without proper papers. However, in a display of discord even within the British camp, Britain's international development secretary, Clare Short, said any attempt to cut aid to Third World countries for that reason was ``morally repugnant.'' The EU is considering boosting border patrols, improving cooperation among countries on visas and sending help to Italy, Spain and Greece. The three southern nations take the brunt of illegal immigrants from Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans. Other ideas include sharing the costs of border controls and using naval ships and planes to track and intercept boats carrying illegal aliens. Organizations helping refugees and illegal immigrants are leery about a tougher EU immigration policy, fearing an erosion of human rights for bona fide asylum seekers. The EU leaders also debated the difficult issue of funding the EU's eastward expansion. Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Britain do not want farm subsidies--which account for half of the EU budget--extended to 10 nations due join to in 2004. A final decision was not expected until after the Sept. 22 general elections in Germany. AP-NY-06-21-02 1502EDT
Associated Press Writer
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