05/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - Discussions on the British proposal for asylum reform and the Commission's communication on the same subject did not make overmuch headway, but did apparently confirm strong differences of opinion. The Swedish Minister for Immigration and Asylum, Jan O. Karlsson, marked his clear opposition to the British proposals, unequivocally rejecting the idea for transferring all asylum seekers to centres outside the EU. Speaking to the Press, he said that he even opposed the idea of pilot schemes to test the ideas. We will need to look into issues of legality first, he added. His Danish counterpart Bertel Haarder, on the other hand, supported this idea just as strongly, telling journalists that countries in favour were willing to launch pilot projects funded at European level. He favoured the centres, whether applicants arrived there of their own accord, or were sent there from the EU. Internal Affairs Ministers adopted no conclusions on the three communications published on Tuesday by the Commission, indicated diplomats on Thursday evening, at the end of the Council. These three texts focus on cost-sharing of the fight against illegal immigration and border control, asylum reform, and integration (EUROPE of 4 June, p.12).