European Union leaders ended their two-day summit in Spain this afternoon with outline agreement on deadlines for a common asylum policy to fight illegal immigration and the launching of joint border operations by the end of the year.
The leaders also agreed plans to close accession talks with up to 10 mostly ex-communist states in December despite a row over farm aid, at the summit in Seville.
|
|
The Taoiseach Mr Ahern and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen get ready to pose for the ‘family photograph’ with the other EU leaders. Photo: Reuters
|
The 15 leaders also declared the EU's economic downturn was over and said agreed reform measures would underpin recovery.
The two-day summit has been marred by a series of bomb attacks blamed on Basque separatist group ETA, which left one British tourist badly injured. Anti-globalisation activists also protested today.
Earlier today a bomb exploded in the town of Mijas, between Malaga and Marbella. Officials said the device went off close to cars parked near a hotel. A second device exploded in the northern coastal town of Santander. There were no reports of injuries.
Yesterday bombs hit two southern resorts and the northeastern city of Zaragoza. The leaders have been shielded from threats by tight security, including high fences and armoured police cars.
The politically fraught issue of illegal immigration has dominated the summit following recent gains by populist far-right parties in several European countries.
|
Today's declaration includes radical new moves to link European aid to poorer countries' efforts to help the EU's immigration battle.
The accord puts pressure on the developing countries to take back their nationals who have been rejected for asylum in any of the EU countries.
The leaders asked the European Commission to begin a systematic assessment of EU relations with third countries which do not co-operate in combating illegal immigration.
The Summit conclusions said if the EU is unsuccessful in persuading a country to help, the EU "may unanimously find that a third country has shown an unjustified lack of co-operation in joint management of migration flows".
The link with development aid worries France and Sweden. French President Jaques Chirac is particularly alarmed at the potential impact on its trading relations with former colonies such as Morocco and Algeria.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the deal was aimed at people who traffic in "human misery" and not those genuinely seeking a new home in Europe.
The immigration package also includes a new bid to pin responsibility for dealing with genuine asylum seekers on the EU country of entry.
Under the terms of the deal, asylum seekers would only be able to make one asylum claim in the EU, with the outcome applying in all 15 countries.
In the summit's draft conclusions, the leaders set deadlines in 2002 and 2003 for finalising a common asylum policy.
The EU said it would seek by the end of 2002 to set up joint operations at external borders and create a network of immigration liaison officers.
|
|
North African workers sleep during a forty-eight hour hunger strike occupying the University hall in Seville during the twelfth day of a sit-in protest. Photo: Reuters
|
But there was no mention of an EU common border guard, which some countries such as Britain and Sweden regard as a step too far towards a European federation.
More than 400 illegal immigrant farm workers occupying buildings at a Seville university to demand residency rights, began a 48-hour hunger strike yesterday.
The Summit also raised the continuing Middle East crisis, with EU leaders backing an international conference. The Summit declaration said it should address political as well as security and economic aspects of the dispute.
"The European Council strongly condemns all terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. The peace process and the stability of the region cannot be hostage to terrorism. The fight against terrorism must go on, but so at the same time must the negotiation of a political solution.
"The end result should be two states living side by side within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours."
The Summit discussions also addressed the unrest between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, with EU leaders calling on both countries to establish an effective monitoring system to stop infiltration across the "Line of Control" and to prevent terrorist groups from operating.
On the economy, the EU leaders sounded an upbeat note. "The European economy is set to reap the benefits of sound macroeconomic policies and ambitious economic reform, which will underpin the ongoing recovery of growth and job creation."