MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur blasts EU immigrants “return directive”

Mercosur and associate members expressed on Friday their strong rejection to the “discriminatory” set of restrictions agreed by the European Union and confirmed by the EU Parliament regarding immigrants in irregular situation

"The governments of the States belonging to and associates of Mercosur regret the approval by the European parliament of the so-called "return directive"" said an official communiqué from the Argentine Foreign Affairs Ministry, the country which currently holds the chair of the South American block. Argentine sources also confirmed that the EU immigrants issue will be on the agenda when Mercosur leaders meet next July first in Tucuman for their calendar six months summit. Mercosur full members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay with Venezuela in the process of incorporation. Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are associates. In the statement the ten South American countries underline their "firm commitment to the promotion and unrestricted respect of migrant persons and their families' human rights, no matter their migratory condition, nationality, ethnic origin, gender or age". Besides, "there's the need to recognise the principle of co responsibility between countries of origin, transit and destination of the migratory influxes", adds the release from the Argentine Foreign Affaire ministry. These principles on which migratory policies are supported, "have a correlation in the norms adopted by Mercosur, which rejects addressing irregular migration as a crime", emphasized the release. The "return directive", meant to harmonize immigration laws across the EU, also says member states will have to choose between issuing residency or other permits to immigrants caught without them or sending the immigrants home. Those denied residency would also face a choice: go home voluntarily, or face deportation. Anyone deported could be banned from the EU for five years. Some Latinamerican leaders also reacted personally to the EU restrictions. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened on Thursday to shut off oil exports to Europe, "our petroleum should not go to these European countries" that apply the new regulations, he said at a press conference in Caracas Bolivian President Evo Morales wrote an open letter to the European Parliament on Wednesday, calling the detention centers in Europe "concentration camps" and Ecuador's President Rafael Correa also slammed the directive, calling it "shameful". The United Nations also complained about the new rules for their lack of "protection of individuals' rights who are in a very vulnerable situation," according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. Amnesty International said the long detention period and five-year re-entry ban could lower "standards" for the treatment of immigrants. A statement by the human-rights group said the EU directive "sets an extremely bad example to other regions in the world." About 300,000 illegal migrants to Europe are caught on EU borders every year, according to the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society at Oxford University. Many come from Eastern Europe, Latin America, but more make treacherous boat crossings from northern Africa. Spain announced it would make a "diplomatic information effort" in Latinamerica to explain the extent and purpose of the latest EU migration regulations which become effective in two years time and allows countries to retain undocumented immigrants up to 18 months. Cabinet Deputy President Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega anticipated the news following a full cabinet meeting and indicated the controversial 18 months period in the case of Spain currently is 40 days and the Socialist government would like extended to 60 days. The Spanish official said she was "absolutely convinced" that Latinamerican countries would continue to support the EU "common policy" which introduces "criteria and guarantees currently non existent, for example judicial control of the issue". "What is needed is greater information about the directive and what this policy means particularly involving the Spanish government", she added.