Luxembourg, 10/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday 9 June, the EU27 interior ministers Council published a conclusions document defining the EU strategy on the readmission of illegal immigrants. Based on a report by the European Commission published in February, the EU27 note in the conclusions document that readmission agreements (some 13 of which exist at the moment) provide great value-added as a way of stemming illegal immigration. The Council adds that negotiations over the six readmission agreements for which a negotiating mandate already exists should be speeded up. In the document, the EU27 politicians say that in line with current policy, any future negotiations on the easing of visa requirements for non-EU nationals wanting to visit the EU should be accompanied by a separate readmission agreement, and readmission issues needed to be seen against a broader backdrop of cooperation with non-EU countries. The ministers say it is vital that incentives are introduced for the non-EU countries in question and negotiating mandates in the future could include special incentives for the country in question as long as it cooperates sufficiently. Any such incentives would cease if the country failed to fulfil its readmission requirements. (S.P./transl.fl)