Brussels, 20/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - Two British MEPs from the ALDE group believe that, despite the Commission's efforts to tackle illegal immigration, the EU could be more effective in regulating this problem. With commissioner Franco Frattini unveiling his “illegal immigration package” on Wednesday (see EUROPE 9236), Sarah Ludford said that, even though public opinion wanted improvements to migration management at European level, the EU had little chance of having an effective policy because of its limited powers and the lack of will shown by Member States, including the United Kingdom, who did not hesitate to use the various “opt-outs”. The EU border agency Frontex, she said “is plagued by budgetary and staffing problems”, and she added that Poland “has so far been unable to meet its obligations as host country”. Graham Watson, the leader of the group said that “Franco Frattini's 'Captain Europe'-style rapid-reaction border teams” risked reducing Europe's action to “a simple wham-bam response when what is needed is a more sophisticated long-term strategy”. He said that the Doha negotiations should continue to help migratory flows. In his opinion, Europe had to realise that it had to “take either their goods or their people”.