Madrid under fire for policy on migrants

Report of discussions on immigration policies in Europe at an informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for Justice and Home Affairs in Tampere, Finland, 21 September 2006.
Mnisters clashed over how to deal with an influx of illegal immigrants coming from Africa to the EU's southern shores. in particular Spain, Malta and Italy. Austria and Germany challenged Spanish calls for more money from the EU to stem the tide of illegal immigrants, arguing that Madrid's liberal immigration policies had encouraged people to try and enter the Union.
The clash goes to the heart of the debate over managing migratory flows to the 25-country bloc.

Finland: EU Presidency: Paper: Migration management; extended European solidarity in immigration, border control and asylum policies, 2006 http://eu2006.fi/NEWS_AND_DOCUMENTS/OTHER_DOCUMENTS/VKO36/EN_GB/1157615544264/INDEX.HTM

Finland: EU Presidency: Informal ministerial meeting: Justice and Home Affairs, Tampere, 20-22.9.06 http://www.mp.gov.si/nc/en/splosno/rss_en/news/article/11999/5267/

BBC News, 22.9.06: EU nations clash over immigration http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5369986.stm

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