2006: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. SPAIN ASKS THE EU TO HELP.

In 2006 more than 25,000 illegal immigrants arrived in the Canary Islands from the northwest coast of Africa.

Spain asked the EU to show more solidarity with those member states responsible for securing the European Union's external borders (especially with Spain, Italy and Malta).

When asked what he thought was needed, the Spanish minister said: "Money, resources, means, determination and the consciousnesses that this is not a simple contingency, this is a reality which is going to accompany all of us along the way in the first third of the 21st century."

The European Commission provided funds and asked the bloc's 25 member countries to show more solidarity.

In July 2006, the European Commission published the EU´s policy priorities in this important area:

- Cooperation with countries of origin and transit

- Further strengthening the external borders

- Fight against human trafficking

- Tackling illegal employment

- Regularisation of illegal immigrants

- Return policy

- Improved information exchange among countries.

Did you like it? Send us a tweet

Source:

-http://www.dw.com/en/spain-pushes-for-european-response-to-illegal-immigration/a-2180188

-http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-06-296_en.htm?locale=en