By
The Associated Press
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - European Union justice ministers agreed yesterday to speed up the integration of their asylum policies in an attempt to stem the tide of illegal immigrants without affecting the fate of genuine political refugees.
Alarmed at the rise of illegal immigration within the 15-nation union, the ministers sought to close loopholes in differing legislation, which have been exploited by human traffickers and smugglers.
"We are very anxious to coordinate EU action against the source of this smuggling," said British Home Secretary Jack Straw, who proposed a series of measures to toughen up EU laws.
Sweden, which holds the EU presidency and has traditionally been among the most welcoming of nations for refugees, agreed that the EU member nations have to act as one.
Migration and Asylum Minister Maj-Inger Klingvall suggested expanding that unity to the dozen nations that are seeking EU membership.
Straw's proposals have been seen by some as trying to weaken the Geneva Convention on sheltering refugees, but he denied yesterday that this was his intent. "All of us should be generous toward genuine refugees," he said.
But he called for a tougher line toward "those who have unfounded claims for asylum and who are using the very complicated and contradictory practices of the different EU nations as a means of evading normal immigration controls."
The justice ministers admitted that attempts to reform their rules were lagging.
At their 1999 summit in Tampere, Finland, the EU leaders set a timeline to improve cooperation among police forces, ease extradition of criminals, recognize each other's judicial decisions and stanch money laundering, drug smuggling and illegal immigrants. The EU nations also are aiming for a common asylum policy by 2004.
Straw said EU nations should link their procedures to keep applicants from choosing the member state most likely to grant residence.
He also wants EU nations to back French plans to impose tough criminal penalties on human traffickers, and highlighted plans for joint crime-fighting teams from different EU nations.
Ruud Lubbers, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, who was to address the gathering, has urged that the spirit of the Geneva Convention to grant political refugees asylum be respected.
"Mr. Lubbers' rejection of a 'European fortress' ... is totally in agreement with the line adopted by the Swedish presidency," Klingvall said.
