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EU approves illegal migrants plan | |
(1 day later) | |
The European Parliament has passed a controversial set of EU rules for dealing with illegal immigration. | |
Under the new rules illegal immigrants can be detained for up to 18 months and face a five-year re-entry ban. | |
Lawmakers backed the measures by a large majority despite opposition from many Socialist and Green parties, and condemnation from human rights groups. | |
The rules took more than two years to draft and member states will have a further two years to implement them. | |
Joint standards | |
The length of time an immigrant can be held before expulsion varies greatly across the 27-nation European Union. | The length of time an immigrant can be held before expulsion varies greatly across the 27-nation European Union. |
In France the detention limit is 32 days, in Hungary it is a year, in Latvia it is 20 months and in seven countries there is no time limit. | In France the detention limit is 32 days, in Hungary it is a year, in Latvia it is 20 months and in seven countries there is no time limit. |
France's immigration minister said that the country's custody period - the lowest in Europe - will not be altered. | |
Those with longer time limits will have to apply the new EU-wide maximum - however, the new rules will not automatically apply in Denmark, Ireland and the UK because they have negotiated opt-outs. | |
In the text approved by EU ministers, an illegal immigrant can be detained for a maximum of six months. This period is extendable by a further 12 months under certain conditions if, for example, the immigrant fails to co-operate with the authorities. | |
The new rules allow for a 30-day voluntary departure period for illegal immigrants before their expulsion. | |
Once expelled, they may be barred from re-entering the EU for a five-year period. | |
'Imperfect but necessary' | |
"We believe that the text approved today by the European Parliament does not guarantee the return of irregular migrants in safety and dignity," human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement. | |
EU officials estimate there are up to eight million illegal immigrants in the bloc. | EU officials estimate there are up to eight million illegal immigrants in the bloc. |
According to the Council of Europe - a human rights watchdog - some 51,000 migrants arrived by boat in Italy, Spain, Greece and Malta in 2007, many of them asylum seekers and refugees "who lack legal avenues to enter Europe". | According to the Council of Europe - a human rights watchdog - some 51,000 migrants arrived by boat in Italy, Spain, Greece and Malta in 2007, many of them asylum seekers and refugees "who lack legal avenues to enter Europe". |
It urged the EU to improve the immigrants' detention conditions and legal aid, and said Mediterranean countries needed EU help to cope with the influx. | It urged the EU to improve the immigrants' detention conditions and legal aid, and said Mediterranean countries needed EU help to cope with the influx. |
In a parliamentary debate on the new directive on Tuesday, EU Commissioner Jacques Barrot said the legislation "gives priority to voluntary returns" and "protects the rights of children and families". | In a parliamentary debate on the new directive on Tuesday, EU Commissioner Jacques Barrot said the legislation "gives priority to voluntary returns" and "protects the rights of children and families". |
Parliament's rapporteur Manfred Weber, who helped draft the directive, said it envisaged "the use of detention only when necessary" and it complied with Council of Europe guidelines. | Parliament's rapporteur Manfred Weber, who helped draft the directive, said it envisaged "the use of detention only when necessary" and it complied with Council of Europe guidelines. |
A British liberal, Baroness Sarah Ludford, said it was "imperfect but necessary to raise standards". | A British liberal, Baroness Sarah Ludford, said it was "imperfect but necessary to raise standards". |
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