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Mercosur anger at EU migrant laws Mercosur condemns EU migrant law
(about 22 hours later)
Leaders attending an Argentine summit of South American trade bloc Mercosur are expected to strongly criticise new European Union immigration laws. South American heads of state have ended a regional summit with a fierce attack on EU immigration policies.
A directive passed by the EU last month could see illegal immigrants detained for up to 18 months and if expelled they face a five-year ban on re-entry. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told the Mercosur meeting in Argentina that Europe had "legalised barbarism".
There are hundreds of thousands of South Americans working in EU countries, many of them illegally. The EU laws, due to come into force in 2010, could see illegal immigrants held for up to 18 months and face a five-year ban on re-entry if expelled.
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa has called the EU measures "shameful". The summit also voiced concerns about rising global food prices.
The Bolivian leader, Evo Morales, said they did nothing to combat discrimination and racism, while Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said the region did not accept the concept of migration as a crime. But it was the EU rules passed last month that truly united the South American leaders in anger at the gathering in the northern city of Tucuman, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Argentina.
South American leaders often find it difficult to reach agreement on many things but they appear to be united in their anger at the new EU immigration rules, reports the BBC's Daniel Schweimler from Argentina. 'Outrageous'
In a joint declaration, they rejected "every effort to criminalise irregular migration and the adoption of restrictive immigration policies, in particular against the most vulnerable sectors of society, women and children".
The statement also noted "the necessity to fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance".
It was signed by the seven presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, and ministers from associate Mercosur members Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
MERCOSUR MEMBERS Full members: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, UruguayFull member pending ratification: VenezuelaAssociate members: Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru Profile: MercosurMERCOSUR MEMBERS Full members: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, UruguayFull member pending ratification: VenezuelaAssociate members: Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru Profile: Mercosur
Most of South America's leaders are in the Argentine city of Tucuman where their summit plans to issue a declaration condemning the EU measures. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa called the EU measures "shameful".
The European Union last month adopted the rules, which could come into force in 2010. Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva branded it "outrageous, ignominious".
The law will oblige EU members to choose between issuing residency permits to the estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants who enter each year, or returning them to their country of origin. Bolivian leader Evo Morales said the measures did nothing to combat racism.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said the law was inadmissible.
Uruguay's leader Tabare Vazquez said: "Nobody emigrates for fun, they do it out of necessity."
There are hundreds of thousands of South Americans working in EU countries, many of them illegally.
Under the new rules, an illegal immigrant can be detained for a maximum of six months. This period is extendable by a further 12 months under certain conditions if, for example, the immigrant fails to co-operate with the authorities.Under the new rules, an illegal immigrant can be detained for a maximum of six months. This period is extendable by a further 12 months under certain conditions if, for example, the immigrant fails to co-operate with the authorities.
The rules allow for a 30-day voluntary departure period for illegal immigrants before their expulsion. The other main issue discussed at the summit was the high price of food.
Once expelled, they may be barred from re-entering the EU for a five-year period. Brazil's president urged more food production, while Bolivia's leader criticised groups that speculate over food prices.
Food shortages "They must understand that eating is a human right," said Mr Morales.
On other issues, Mercosur says it is taking a big step towards regional integration by lifting visa restrictions, which will allow South Americans to travel freely between member and associate countries showing only their ID cards.
Other topics being addressed at the meeting which began on Monday and runs until Tuesday are regional and international food crises and on this there is no unity, our correspondent says.
The summit host, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who has been facing farmers' strikes over her proposals to raise tariffs on food exports, blamed poor wealth distribution for food shortages.
"The chief cause of the world food shortage is poorly distributed wealth by oligopolies and financial institutions and lack of market access," she said on Sunday.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is against tariffs, argues that producing more food would solve the crisis.
"The more (food) we produce, the more food security we'll have. With fair prices you can increase exports," he said.