Madrid to host European summit on immigration 01/09/2006 00:00

1 September 2006

MADRID — Spain's deputy prime minister announced on Friday Madrid is to host an international conference this month on tightening immigration controls.

María Teresa Fernández de la Vega said ministers from France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Malta and Slovenia are to attend the meeting at the end of the month.

The conference will discuss how to stop more illegal immigrants arriving by sea. 

The news comes after interior minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba told the Spanish parliament on Thursday 52,757 illegal immigrants have been sent back to their homes in the past year.

He said he recognised the pressure which the arrival of nearly 19,000 illegal immigrants in the Canary Islands this year had put on resources and authorities there.

But during a speech lasting more than an hour, Rubalcaba said police and security forces had been increased around the islands.

Now there are 2,239 officers, while there were 1,403 two years ago.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news