Veria (Greece), 28/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - EU Member States are still divided on sharing costs for management of external borders and the repatriation of illegal immigrants, with the Mediterranean countries calling for more European solidarity and the net contributors insisting above all on the lack of available resources in the Community budget. They are beginning, nevertheless, to discuss in more detail the outline of these policies. At the end of the discussion at the informal JHA Council in Veria on Friday, the Greek Minister for public order, Michalis Chrysochoidis gave assurances that progress had been made, informing Agence EUROPE that discussions were progressing on the criteria for cost sharing. The Minister acknowledged that there were "divisions" between countries from the north and the south (Germany declared that it did not want to give any money any more). It considers that "there is already money" in the external relations budget and that the question is one of finding out how to use Mr Patten and Mr Vitorino's money. The Acting President of the Council of Home Affairs is therefore following the guidelines of the Commission itself and the majority of Member States, that the EU could benefit from the mid term review of partnerships with third countries to grant more funds for cooperation on immigration (EUROPE 27 March p 10).
Border controls. The Presidency has proposed four criteria for the sharing of control charges: geographical localisation in a country, the specific nature of the border, immigration pressure, quality controls. Ministers also mentioned the setting up of an external border control assessment model. As expected, Commissioner Vitorino insisted on the distinction between current financial perspectives and those in the future and highlighted the fact that all necessary resources were needed for this policy. Italy is requesting the adoption of a legal data base for a Community instrument. Portugal has also supported the creation of a Community fund. European Commissioner Antonio Vitorino also pointed out that financial responsibility was firstly the responsibility of Member States and Community money was complementary. Austria believes that it is above all the responsibility of the Member State. Otto Schily from Germany indicated that Germany could not accept additional charges. Denmark insisted on the country whose border is first crossed in the EU by the illegal immigrant. Antoine Duqesne from Belgium said that financial solidarity was not just for helping the country that has external borders and that the criteria proposed by the Presidency were not sufficient. The Netherlands also though that the criteria were insufficient and insisted on an assessment of the pilot projects launched at the end of last year on this theme.
Voluntary and forced repatriation: Italy, Spain and Portugal support the setting up of European return fund. Belgium is very wary of it, except in specific cases such as Afghanistan. Minister Duquesne is in favour of operational cooperation instead of a European fund. The Luxembourg Minister was also on the same wave length. Commissioner Vitorino indicated that at the end of the year, he would be proposing, on the occasion of the mid term review of the European refugee fund, whether this instrument could be used for forced repatriation.