24/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 18 July, ten independent experts from the UN human rights council criticised the European Union's month-early adoption of the “returns directive” (EUROPE 9685). They indicated that, “our principle concern relates to the detention regime pending removal procedures for irregular immigrants. The Directive envisages detention periods of up to 18 months, which appear to be excessive”. The experts explained that, “irregular immigrants are not...