Brussels, 28/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Council has adopted without debate the framework decision on traffickers, in connection with ending aid to entry, transit and residency of illegal immigrants. There had been an agreement on this subject more than a year ago during the Swedish Presidency. Meanwhile, Member States lifted their different parliamentary reservations. This document focuses especially on those involved in the trafficking: those who deliberately help people to illegally enter the territory of a Member State or to stay there. This kind of action will be subject to eight year prison sentences if they have carried it out with financial motivation (this could be brought down to 6 years for countries for whom 8 years would be an excessive sentence compared to the rest of their justice system). If such action has been taken for financial gain prison sentences would be, "effective, proportional, dissuasive and likely to lead to extradition". Nevertheless, a Member State could decide not to impose a sanction for assistance to enter a territory if this behaviour had a humanitarian aim for the person concerned. France proposed this document in June 2000 after the deaths of Chinese immigrants who suffocated in a lorry at Dover. The document now completes the framework decision on the traffic of human beings.