The compromise within the Council of General Affairs having failed, the theme of the common European policy on illegal immigration now acquires fundamental importance for the success of the summit of the heads of state and of government that is being held in Seville on 21 and 22 June, and that promises to be very lively. The Spanish premier, José Maria Aznar, has declared that he wants to present a “global package” of proposals to the European Council with the aim of cracking down on clandestine immigration, based on four main planks: immigration and asylum policies, status of refugees; common plan of action against illegal immigration; controls of external frontiers; campaign against clandestine immigration through the reinforcement of cooperation between the Fifteen on the basis of a precise timetable and an overall programme. The agenda of the European Council formally concluding the six-month Spanish Presidency, which now passes to Denmark also comprises discussion on the foreign relations of the EU and on the process of economic reform begun at Barcelona. This is the agenda in brief. Immigration: the problem of illegal immigration will be tackled in the wider context of the common policy of asylum and immigration, assessing the feasibilities of integrating immigration policy in EU foreign relations. Enlargement: the summit will review the state of the negotiations on membership and respect for the timetable approved by the Council and the Commission and recently reconfirmed by the European Parliament. Future of the EU: the President of the Convention, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, will report on the progress of the work so far. Economy: the debate will focus on the “major guidelines for economic policy” and on the structural reforms of the Fifteen. Foreign relations: the summit will review the activities of the Spanish Presidency and discuss the preparation of the common EU position for presentation at the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg (South Africa) at the end of August. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 36 N.ro relativo : 24 Data pubblicazione : 21/06/2002
