Arab revolts raise new fears of illegals in Europe

EUROPE voiced fears last night about a new wave of illegal immigration after Libya threatened to break its cooperation on controlling the flow and more Tunisians landed in Italy.

With thousands fleeing from Tunisia in the past 10 days after a revolution ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, European governments reacted with anger and dread after Libya warned it could suspend cooperation in retaliation for the EU’s condemnation of a crackdown on protesters. German European affairs minister Werner Hoyer called the Libyan threat “an incredible mistake,” and said the EU would “not allow itself to be blackmailed.”

The European Commission in October offered Libya up to €50 million in aid to stop the flow of illegal migrants to Europe as well as assist refugees from across the region who use the north African country as a jumping-off point to Europe. Diplomats warned that if Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi falls, the floodgates to illegal immigration could blow wide open.

As more Tunisian migrants arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa yesterday, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini voiced fears the Libyan unrest and other revolts could increase the pressure.

Warning Europe would be “paying the price” of economic collapse in Arab nations, he called for an EU pact to help improve the lives of people in the region, a sort of “Marshall Plan,” in reference to the US-led reconstruction programme for Europe after World War II.