Latin America Could Halt EU Trade Talks Over New Immigration Law

[magbana]

Latin America could halt EU trade talks over return directive
LEIGH PHILLIPS

23 Jun 2008 @ 09:29 CET http://euobserver.com/9/26374/?rk=1


Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, has warned that trade talks between
the European Union and the Andean Community could be suspended if the
27-member bloc pushes ahead with its new immigration law.

"We could even suspend those negotiations. What do we have to talk about
with a union of countries that criminalises immigrants?" asked the
Ecuadorean leader during a radio programme on Saturday (21 June),
according to Reuters.

Latin American leaders are worried about the human rights of migrants in
Europe and the remittances the send home. (Photo: European Commission)

"It will be very hard to talk business and ignore human rights."

Latin American leaders have ramped up the rhetoric against the new EU
'return directive' that allows clandestine migrants to be detained for
up to 18 months and face a five-year travel ban after being deported.

Mr Correa, whose nation currently holds the Andean Community of Nations'
rotating presidency, referred to the new law as the 'hate directive'.

The trade bloc, made up of Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia, launched
trade and co-operation talks with the EU last year. Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay and Uruguay are also associate members as of 2005.

Latin America's other trade bloc, Mercosur, has also expressed its
misgivings. The bloc's secretary-general, Carlos Alvarez, has also
criticised the return directive for violating human rights.

Last week, Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, threatened to disrupt oil
exports to Europe over the controversial new immigration measures.

Although the country only supplies some 400,000 barrels a day to Europe,
as opposed to the 1.4 million it delivers to the United States, European
leaders have said the move is unwarranted.

EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana called Mr Chavez's threat
"totally disproportionate" on Friday (20 June).

Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero told reporters at the EU
summit of heads of state in Brussels on the same day he believes the
Latin American leaders do not understand the new rules.

"Maybe we need to explain exactly to the president of Venezuela what
this directive (EU law) consists of," he said.

The Latin American leaders however are not simply concerned about the
human rights of undocumented workers. The remittances sent back to poor
countries such as Ecuador and Bolivia are an important source of income
and driver of development.

Last year, immigrants in Europe, the US and Japan sent money back to
their families in Latin America and the Caribbean amounting to just
under €43 billion, more than the region receives from foreign direct
investment or development assistance combined.

Some 15 percent of that comes from western Europe. Monies from Spain
amounting to 36 percent of all global remittances to Bolivia.

The leaders say that it makes no sense for Europe to continue to send
aid while cutting off remittances from immigrants.

Last week, the directive was also sharply criticised by the UN and
Amnesty International.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Great article. Adding: "Ecuador supports Peru's rejection of EU anti-immigrant law"

Ecuador supports Peru's rejection of EU anti-immigrant law

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-24 11:24:32

LIMA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Ecuadorian government supports Peru's rejection of the anti-immigrant law approved by the European Parliament last week, Ecuadorian Vice President Lenin Moreno said here Monday.

Peruvian President Alan Garcia has said that the so-called Return Directive violates universal human rights and should be analyzed by the Organization of the American States (OAS).

"I read his statements and they are filled with dignity. Ecuador rejects this discriminatory action against immigrants," said Moreno.

Under the Return Directive, illegal immigrants in all 27 EU member nations can be detained for up to 18 months and face a re-entry ban of up to five years.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/24/content_8428624.htm