Chinese visit to EU boosts hopes of deal on illegal immigrants

Date: 05/10/00

By John Shelley

CHINESE experts on illegal immigration are planning to visit the EU within the next two weeks in the first of a series of initiatives designed to improve ties in the wake of the Dover tragedy.

The UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France have all offered to play host to the visitors during their fact-finding mission, which the Union hopes will mark the start of closer relations in the fight against the illegal traffic in human beings.

EU diplomats say the move could lead to cooperation between police forces in Europe and China, and ultimately an accord with Beijing to take back illegal immigrants who have been smuggled into the Union. "It would make a huge difference if we could get an agreement that would mean we would physically be able to return people to China," said one.

The experts' visit comes in direct response to the Dover tragedy in June when 58 Chinese migrants suffocated to death in the back of a container lorry while being smuggled into the UK.

The EU is working on a range of proposals to follow up on this initial visit which they will present to Chinese leaders at a summit between the two sides on 23 October. These are expected to include cooperation on identifying forged papers, training support for Chinese officials and repeated study visits between experts from the two blocs. The Union may also offer to support information campaigns in the provinces from which illegal immigrants often originate, in a bid to persuade people not to attempt a flight to Europe.

The jewel in the crown of closer ties between Brussels and Beijing would be to strike a formal re-admission agreement under which China would agree to take back immigrants whose asylum applications have been rejected in the Union.

EU diplomats admit that this is a long-term goal and that member states may have to offer a bigger carrot to the Chinese than simply helping them train their customs officers. This could include trade concessions or development aid.

But member states are hopeful that the process which is now beginning could provide a temporary way round these lengthy negotiations. "It could take a couple of years to get a formal EU and China readmission agreement but this process could lead to some kind of short-term agreement in the meantime," said one diplomat.

Such an agreement could mean the Beijing authorities agreeing to accept Union documents which identify a migrant as coming from China. It is currently virtually impossible for member states to send Chinese immigrants home because they tear up their ID documents when they arrive in the EU and China will only take back its nationals if they have their original identity papers.

Chinese experts on illegal immigration are planning to visit the EU in the first of a series of initiatives designed to improve ties in the wake of the Dover tragedy of June 2000, when 58 Chinese migrants suffocated to death in the back of a container lorry while being smuggled into the UK.