International   

European deal to block illegal migrants

Giles Tremlett

Madrid: Spain, Italy and France are planning to launch joint navy patrols in the Mediterranean to fight illegal immigration, drug-trafficking and terrorism.

Initial agreement came during a meeting between Spain's socialist Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's Premier.

The two men are expected to sign a deal with France in January to create what Mr. Zapatero has called ``a Schengen of the sea''.

While the Schengen area of 15 E.U. states has no frontier controls for travellers, the new deal will be all about keeping a strict watch over borders.

``The immigration phenomenon, in the short term, the medium term and the long term, is the biggest question facing the E.U.,'' said Mr. Zapatero.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

7 soldiers killed in LTTE attacks: Army
Rice set to refuse prison probe
European deal to block illegal migrants
Onassis' heiress weds
Cause of shuttle trouble
Kazakhstan goes to polls
Swamy calls for Hindu `consolidation'

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu