EU clinches deal on return of illegal immigrants

(STRASBOURG) - The European Union clinched an agreement Wednesday on new rules to govern the return of illegal immigrants to countries outside the EU, ending three years of wrangling over the issue.

The deal, aimed at harmonising the way third-country nationals are sent home so current legal differences between countries are not abused, was reached between the EU's main institutions at the European Parliament.

"The negotiations are a success," said Slovenian Interior Minister Dragutin Mate, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency until the end of June.

"We have found a compromise, it remains now to win majorities in the two institutions (the European Parliament and the Council representing the 27 EU nations)," he said, without providing any details about the accord.

An official close to the negotiations said it would set a limit of six months for illegal immigrants to be held in custody, with the possibility this could be extended by a year in certain exceptional cases.

Another source said it could permit the detention of unaccompanied minors.

The deal has been struck at a time when the new Italian government has promised to "cleanse" illegal immigrants, and as France prepares to make the issue a priority when it takes over the EU presidency in July.

German member of the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, said the compromise "does not make criminals out of foreigners without the correct papers", and allows for them to be made legal immigrants or return home.

He said the assembly had obtained "good results in the area of family rights, on the principle of voluntary returns and access to detention centres for non-governmental organisations (NGOs)."

The agreement is expected to be submitted to parliament for a first reading in June. EU deputies estimate that up to eight million illegal immigrants were living in the bloc last year.

The NGOs, for their part, have long criticised the EU's plans.

Many have signed up to a petition insisting "Europe is turning into a locked fortress and is using all available means to block access to its territory and expel people without the correct papers."

They maintain the project -- which would also ban foreigners expelled from Europe from applying to return to the bloc for five years -- "officially enshrines the disappearance of basic rights."

The groups have called a rally in Brussels on May 7.