EU-PAKISTAN AGREEMENT ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IS IMPORTANT SAYS KIRKHOPE
Posted, September 21, 2010 @ 00:00
But safeguards will protect those whose lives are genuinely in danger
Strasbourg 21st September 2010. Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament and Civil Liberties spokesman Timothy Kirkhope today welcomed the EU's new readmission agreement with Pakistan which came before the European Parliament was passed.
The agreement makes it easier for illegal immigrants to the UK from Pakistan to be returned, whilst safeguarding those with genuine reasons to remain.
Mr Kirkhope said,
"The numbers of illegal immigrants from Pakistan within the EU are significant. We in Britain have always welcomed immigrants and have been proud to offer asylum to needy cases.
"The agreement signed with Pakistan is a useful tool in fighting illegal immigration. It was however vital that we pushed for safeguards across all EU member states ensuring that illegal immigrants being sent back to countries who have not signed the Geneva Convention are offered adequate protection.
"This protection makes sure that no person is re-admitted whose life is genuinely in danger and places responsibility on the Member States legal systems to make sure each immigrant's case is fairly judged on its merits ."