Migration sanctions plan splits EU

Britain is concerned at the number of refugees attempting to cross from France

LUXEMBOURG -- A plan to threaten sanctions against developing countries that fail to cooperate with an EU drive against illegal immigration has divided foreign ministers.

Sweden and France led opposition to the plan at the meeting of foreign ministers, pushing the issue back to a summit meeting on Friday and Saturday in Seville, Spain.

Britain, Italy and Spain -- current holder of the EU presidency -- are urging tough action.

The proposal calls for the imposition of trade or aid sanctions on nations that fail to clamp down on illegal immigrants leaving or passing through their territory.

Speaking after Monday's meeting, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said London would continue to push for the move.

"We must send a powerful signal to some third countries that, if they want to develop a strong relationship with the EU, they must better co-operate in fighting illegal immigration and in taking back their own nationals," he said.

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"This should be part of the EU's political and economic dialogue with these countries."

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who meets British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Wednesday, has said countries receiving EU aid must crack down on gangs of "people smugglers."

However, other EU nations, led by Sweden and France, oppose the sanctions idea and say the EU should offer incentives to poor countries that help control immigration.

"We cannot threaten them. What we need is to support them, not reprimand them," said Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz.

The EU would need unanimous agreement to threaten sanctions.

Interior ministers agreed last week on a package of measures to boost Europe's border controls, close loopholes and cooperate on repatriating rejected asylum seekers.

The Seville meeting is also expected to focus on a dispute over economic aid to Poland, Hungary and eight other nations that are seeking to complete membership talks with the EU in December, in time to join on January 1, 2004.