The European Union (EU) countries have agreed in principle with a France-drafted plan to tighten immigration and asylum rules and will sign it in October, the French immigration minister announced on Monday.
Brice Hortefeux made the announcement at the two-day meeting of justice and interior ministers in Cannes, France. The plan is aimed at committing the 27 EU members to a common immigration policy.
Hailing the "progress" in years of efforts, Hortefeux said EU leaders would officially sign the pact in October during France's six-month presidency of the bloc.
Under the proposed plan, recipient countries will take in immigrants according to their needs and capacity on the basis of dialogue and consultations with the countries of origin.
Local media described the main goals of the plan as attracting highly skilled labor while repatriating the unwanted. EU countries will also tighten border checks, intensify expulsion of illegal immigrants and drop mass amnesties of illegals.
Source:Xinhua
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