ALDE PROPOSES GREEN CARD SYSTEM IN EUROPE, FRATTINI WISHES TO BATTLE BLACK LABOR MARKET

Commissioner Franco Frattini outlined his proposals today for tackling illegal immigration and fixing a list of safe countries of asylum.

Commission vice-president Franco Frattini announced he would explore the possibility of presenting a special European instrument to "punish those businessmen who accept, encourage or actively support black work." EUobserver adds that the European Commission is planning to come up with a law harmonising penalties for businesses exploiting illegal workers - in a bid to prevent situations similar to the recently discovered slave camp with Polish workers in southern Italy.

"Immigration policy is an area of policy making that can only sensibly be addressed at EU level," said Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (VVD, NL), ALDE spokesperson on immigration and asylum issues.

This is stated in an ALDE press-release received by Portal EUROPE.

"Any new policy initiative must combine a coordinated and consistent approach to preventing and handling humanely the flow of illegal migrants seeking to enter the EU. Greater cooperation between national border guards to rapidly intervene where required, a common approach on returning unfounded illegal migrants and cracking down hard on people traffickers are positive steps in the right direction."

"But any comprehensive approach to immigration cannot ignore the "push" factors that lead people to leave their countries in the first place. Clear plans for development and investment in the countries of origin and transit as well as real possibilities for legal migration (EU type 'Green Card') towards the European Union must be developed. These elements, discussed only last week at the international conference in Rabat deserve as least as much attention as the fight against illegal migration. This fight can only be won by using a balanced approach. The Commission appears to have struck the right balance but Parliament will be studying the proposals carefully."