Brussels, 25/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - Immigration Commissioner Franco Frattini said on Thursday that he hoped the EU Council of Ministers would enlarge its negotiating brief with Morocco on a readmission agreement. The Council of Ministers' negotiating brief with Morocco is too strict, Frattini said. In his view, the EU should provide partial visa facilities to Morocco to convince Rabat to conclude a readmission agreement for illegal migrants crossing its territory. “Morocco does not agree to the readmission of third country nationals”, admitted Commissioner Frattini during a hearing in Parliament. In order to bring these negotiations, that have lasted since April 2003, out of deadlock, “we must make a more ambitious offer to Morocco such as visa facilities for students or research workers”, he added. “This would be a political gesture allowing the agreement to be concluded. We did it for the Western Balkans so why not for Morocco?”, asked Frattini by way of conclusion. (bc)