EU rejects asylum sanctions

There are differences between European leaders over the issue of immigration

SEVILLE, Spain -- European Union leaders have rejected calls to punish poor countries that fail to co-operate in the fight against illegal immigration into the 15-nation bloc.

But, alarmed by public support for populist anti-immigration parties, the leaders endorsed proposals for tighter border controls and agreed to press other countries to co-operate.

The start of the two-day summit in Seville was delayed for two hours on Friday following a general strike in Spain the previous day which held up transport plans. (Full story)

Tight security was in place for the meeting, but armed separatist group ETA is being blamed for two car bombs in tourist areas on the south coast. (Full story)

Diplomats said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, facing a tough election in September, pushed hard for financial penalties for non-compliance at the summit on Friday.

EXTRA INFORMATION In-depth: Europe on the move    MORE STORIES • Strikers send message to Seville  • Strike brings Europe travel chaos    PICTURE GALLERY Images from the Spanish strike    RESOURCES Strike action: When and where?

Britain and Spain also wanted the bloc to withhold aid from outside countries that fail to fight people smugglers and take back their rejected nationals, but backed down after opposition from France, Sweden and some other states.

"There will be nothing on sanctions," Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson told reporters of a final text to be adopted by the leaders on Saturday.

Punitive measures were "useless" and using foreign aid as a lever on developing nations, which migrants were fleeing in search of a better life in Europe, would hurt the bloc's credibility, he said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, whose country chaired the Seville summit, said the EU leaders were likely to agree that non-member countries' inaction should have consequences.

"If a country systematically infringes agreements ... that is, breaks rules of play, then the EU reserves the right to see whether there should be consequences of such behaviour," he said.

French President Jacques Chirac called for a "humanist and balanced approach," telling the summit the EU must "reward, rather than punish" poor nations.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw acknowledged that most leaders wanted the EU to focus on positive incentives to reward co-operation by other countries rather than punishment.

Would-be immigrants hold a sit-in at Spain's Pablo de Olavide University

"What most people have in mind is ... positive conditionality," he said. "Countries will get more assistance if they comply with these co-operative agreements."

The European Commission estimates that 500,000 foreigners settle in the European Union every year. Many just overstay their visas, others pay smugglers to bring them in, or make bogus applications for political asylum.

Human-rights groups and some European lawmakers accused the EU leaders of pandering to the far right, which made big recent election gains in France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Italy.

Talks on Friday afternoon also focused on economic issues, after a meeting in Madrid overnight of finance ministers that finalised a new set of economic guidelines for the European Union.

On Saturday, EU leaders turn their attention to enlargement, with a progress report from former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing on the work of a year-long Convention on the Future of Europe.

On Friday, leaders reassured candidates their membership bids would not be derailed by arguments over the cost of enlargement.

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique said up to 10, mostly east European countries, could sign EU Accession Treaties in the first quarter of 2003 and join in the first half of 2004.

"We will be able to stick to our timetable for enlargement, to complete negotiations with up to 10 countries before the end of the year," said Pique, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency until the end of June.

"Therefore we will be able to sign the accession treaty in the first few months of next year, before March 31, if possible," he told a news conference after EU leaders had discussed the enlargement plans.

Observers say Pique's statement hardened up the enlargement timetable of the EU, which has so far only said that it hopes the candidates will join in time to take part in the next European Parliament elections, due in June 2004.