EU: The EU's incoming justice commissioner is heading for clashes with lawmakers and some member-states over his calls for the bloc to set up immigrant holding centres outside its borders, diplomats and lawmakers said yesterday.
Despite the fact that similar plans were rejected last year, incoming justice and security commissioner Mr Rocco Buttiglione has said he backs German proposals to establish camps outside the European Union to intercept migrants before they try to enter Europe.
One EU lawmaker condemned Mr Buttiglione's statement and said he could face a hard time when the European Parliament scrutinises members of the next European Commission in hearings starting on September 27th.
"It is rather discouraging that Mr Buttiglione is starting with a wacky idea which has been discredited," British Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford said.
Mr Buttiglione has said the EU should help countries like Libya and Tunisia co-ordinate camps, which would offer migrants humanitarian aid and information on job possibilities in Europe, but also vet possible unwanted immigrants.
In June 2003, Britain was forced to drop proposals to create asylum camps outside the bloc after pressure from Sweden and France and from refugee rights groups, which said the plans breached international law.
EU diplomats said it was unclear why German Interior Minister Otto Schily, with support from Italy, was now proposing similar plans, but added Sweden and others were likely to remain firmly opposed.
Mr Buttiglione is Italy's European Affairs Minister and one of the new EU commissioners announced earlier this month.
Italy has been at the centre of the immigration debate in recent years as thousands of migrants risk their lives trying to reach the country's shores in small boats, often barely seaworthy.
Instead of trying to come up with "quick fixes" to solve the problems Europe faces on asylum and immigration, Mr Buttiglione should follow the example of his predecessor and focus on how to forge a sensible common EU policy, Ms Ludford said.
"We will be preparing very carefully for his hearing. It is not a very good start," said Ms Ludford, a member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee of the European Parliament, which will question Mr Buttiglione on asylum and immigration policy.
- Reuters