EU parliamentary panel approves pact with Pakistan on illegals
By IANSTuesday, July 13, 2010
BRUSSELS - An agreement with Pakistan on taking back its citizens illegally living in the European Union was backed by the European parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee Tuesday, EuAsiaNews reported.
The controversial agreement, over which the European parliament has a right of veto, seeks to combat clandestine immigration by making it easier to return illegal immigrants to their country of origin, the European parliament said in a statement.
The agreement will now be debated and then would put to a full session parliament vote in September.
According to the European Commission - on the basis of 2008 figures - about 13,000 Pakistanis have been apprehended in an irregular residence situation in the EU.
The European Commission has been negotiating with Pakistan for eight years on an agreement which is part of a broader move towards closer cooperation on immigration.
