French immigration plan for EU gets green light

EU interior ministers have backed France’s ‘immigration pact’ that would see countries coordinating their efforts to block illegal migrants, Le Figaro reports.

The plans, which will see Europe work closely with third countries, mainly in Africa, to promote selective migration and prevent clandestine ‘shipments’ of migrants, are expected to be formally approved at a council meeting in October, the paper adds.

But Liberation notes that while all 27 member states backed the proposals, they had to be tweaked ahead of the meeting in the face of opposition from Spain, which was concerned that a phrase condemning mass ‘regularisations’ of illegal migrants would be interpreted as a direct criticism of its actions.

Meanwhile the Guardian reports that the French are pushing for the EU's first "asylum support office" to be up and running within 18 months.

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