EU immigration policy

Towards a common European immigration policy - latest news about Immigration Policy in the European Union.

Spain to allow immigrants to vote in municipal elections — 30 July 2008, 23:53 CET

Spain plans to allow legal immigrants from outside the European Union to vote in municipal's elections, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa de la Vega said Wednesday.

Madrid and Paris seek allies to fight piracy off Somalia coast — 30 July 2008, 23:51 CET

Spain and France are looking for allies to create a multinational naval force to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia, defence ministers from both countries said Wednesday in Madrid.

Illegal immigrants take to cranes in Brussels protest — 29 July 2008, 16:38 CET

Perched on two construction cranes in front of the European Commission, six Moroccans living illegally in Belgium sought Tuesday to make a high profile protest against EU policy on illegal immigrants.

Russia wants to fight illegal immigration with EU, US: envoy — 29 July 2008, 16:10 CET

Russia wants to join with the European Union and the United States to combat illegal immigration and organised crime and is not looking to undermine NATO, Moscow's envoy to the alliance said Tuesday.

EU denies targeting Africa with immigration pact — 24 July 2008, 13:07 CET

The European Union denied Thursday that its new approach to immigration would target people trying to leave Africa and insisted that African nations were considered partners in the policy.

Frontex ships intercept illegal immigrants off Mauritania — 22 July 2008, 22:49 CET

Senegalese police on Tuesday questioned 64 illegal African immigrants after they were intercepted by a ship of European border control agency Frontex.

UN rights experts express concern on EU illegal migration rules — 18 July 2008, 16:34 CET

Ten United Nations human rights experts on Friday said they have written to the European Union expressing their concerns over the bloc's new rules on illegal immigrants.

Italy 'benevolent' towards immigrants: Berlusconi — 15 July 2008, 20:13 CET

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday defended Italy's "benevolent" attitude towards immigrants during a joint news conference with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Slovakia says fewer illegal migrants found after Schengen — 15 July 2008, 16:48 CET

The number of illegal migrants caught on the Slovak-Austrian border has dropped by around 97 percent since Slovakia joined Europe's passport-free Schengen zone at the end of 2007, the Slovak interior ministry told AFP on Tuesday.

EU immigration plan draws flak in Africa — 10 July 2008, 22:53 CET

New European Union proposals aimed at tackling illegal immigration drew criticism on Thursday in Africa where the plans were attacked for criminalising immigrants and building a wall around Europe.

African rights group slams EU immigration plan — 10 July 2008, 22:56 CET

An African rights watchdog expressed its concern on Thursday at a new European Union plan to stem immigration and warned that the pact would make matters worse for immigrants and increase crime.

French police detain German TV team, immigration protestors — 07 July 2008, 23:25 CET

French police detained Monday a camera team from Germany's Deutsche Welle television and 18 rights activists they were filming protesting against the European Union's immigration policy.

EU green-lights new immigration guidelines — 07 July 2008, 23:37 CET

European Union nations unanimously welcomed Monday sweeping new guidelines for controlling immigration and are on track to sign the pact in October.

Don't send asylum seekers back to Greece: Dutch court — 07 July 2008, 18:09 CET

A Dutch court has blocked Netherlands authorities from sending asylum seekers who entered Europe via Greece back to that country for case processing, citing serious flaws in the Greek refugee system.

EU defends immigration rules after Mercosur criticism — 02 July 2008, 18:16 CET

The European Commission defended Wednesday tough new rules to control illegal immigration, after the measures were slammed as "outrageous" by South American leaders.

UNHCR warns Sarkozy over EU immigration plans — 01 July 2008, 18:39 CET

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees warned France not to tighten EU immigration policy at the expense of refugees' rights, as it took over the bloc's presidency Tuesday.

Three immigrant boatloads saved in seas off Malta — 26 June 2008, 23:42 CET

An Italian patrol boat is expected Thursday night in Malta after it rescued 70 clandestine immigrants lost some 30 miles (50 kilometres) west of the Mediterranean island.

EU to inspect Europe's immigrant detention centres — 26 June 2008, 19:13 CET

The EU's top justice official said Thursday that he will inspect detention centres where illegal immigrants are held until they can be expelled to ensure that new rules protecting them are enforced.

France, Spain to approve text of immigration proposal: Madrid — 24 June 2008, 00:05 CET

France and Spain will approve the text for a immigration proposal at a mini-summit between the two nations on Friday in the northern Spanish city of Zaragoza, a Spanish government official said Monday.

Twenty-six saved after immigrant boat capsizes — 20 June 2008, 13:39 CET

An Italian fishing boat rescued 26 migrants, including a 12-month-old child, after their vessel capsized off Malta, and a French warship sent a helicopter to the scene, Maltese authorities said Friday.

EU immigration law sparks outrage in Latin America — 20 June 2008, 10:31 CET

A tough new EU law jailing illegal immigrants for up to 18 months before deportation has triggered outrage across Latin America, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatening to cut off oil exports to Europe.

Chavez threatens to deprive EU of oil over immigration laws — 20 June 2008, 11:25 CET

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened Thursday to shut off oil exports to European countries and kick out their investments if they enforce tough new EU rules on illegal immigrants.

Spain to extend period illegal immigrants can he held in custody — 19 June 2008, 22:49 CET

Spain will extend the period under which illegal immigrants can be held in custody to 60 days from the current 40 days, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said Thursday.

France deports more illegal immigrants — 19 June 2008, 18:57 CET

France has deported nearly 15,000 illegal immigrants in the first five months of this year, an 80 percent jump from the same period last year, Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux said Thursday.

EU angers rights groups with new illegal immigrant laws — 18 June 2008, 19:08 CET

The European Union adopted tough new rules Wednesday on illegal immigrants, allowing detention for up to 18 months prior to expulsion, and angering human rights groups.