Commission pledges EUR 250m aid towards repatriation scheme

Date: 12/06/03

By Karen Carstens

THE European Commission yesterday (11 June) said it would offer up to €250 million in aid over the next five years to countries that accept the repatriation of their nationals from EU member states.

The proposal was part of a package of measures to combat illegal immigration, fight abuses of the political asylum system and help the integration of legal migrants to be discussed at the EU summit in Thessaloniki, Greece, next week.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said leaders must agree on how to fight illegal immigration, which is more widespread in southern than northern Europe since most illegal immigrants entering the EU come from the Middle East and Africa.

The Commission in a statement said the new aid package would provide extra financial and technical assistance to countries trying to manage migratory flows.

"It will be in particular intended for third countries actively engaged in the preparation or in the implementation of a re-admission agreement initialled, signed or concluded with the EU," the Commission said.

The EU has started negotiating such accords with Russia and Morocco, but EU leaders failed last year to agree on possible sanctions against third countries that refuse to take back migrants, because of opposition by France and Sweden.