“A real European policy of asylum and immigration that is fair, equable and respectful of fundamental rights”: that is the main request made by the European Parliament through a draft Resolution approved last week by a very large majority (528 in favour, 116 against and 24 abstentions). In this document the EP adopts a stance in favour of giving national policies relating to the area of liberty, security and justice as great a “Community” i.e. trans-European – dimension as possible. According to MEPs, European policy for immigration cannot ignore respect for fundamental rights, and be limited “simply to combating illegal immigration”. As regards the issues linked to security, the crackdown on organized crime and terrorism, the document criticises the lack of a “real European strategy of internal security” able to define “objectives, responsibilities and results”. The EP has also rejected out of hand the proposed “externalisation of policies of asylum and immigration, the setting up of camps or portals for immigrants outside the EU”, and the widespread practice of “collective expulsion flights” for the repatriation of clandestine immigrants or other illegal refugees served with expulsion orders. For further information, consult the website: www.europarl.eu.int
