EC to harmonise stowaway fines
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• A European Parliament scheme to harmonise the fines imposed for carrying illegal immigrants came a step closer this week.
The Citizen's Rights Committee of the European Parliament narrowly approved a report from Yorkshire and Humberside MEP Timothy Kirkhope, which was based on an earlier French proposal. This calls for a pan-European minimum penalty of 5,000 euros (23,163) per stowaway.
However; this fine—designed to show "a common and coherent attitude against illegal immigration"—will apply only to air and sea carriers. Hauliers would definitely be exempt, but although rail-freight operators have also escaped the report it notes that to make the rules effective they might have to be included.
However, it is feared that the penalties would lead to greater vigilance by the airlines and shipping lines, forcing ever greater numbers of illegal immigrants on to trucks.
In addition, the UK's self-imposed "civil penalty" scheme of floes for hauliers will remain in place, much to the annoyance of the Freight Transport Association.
"We object to the idea of a penalty that targets the carrier and other inno cent parties rather than those who profit from illegal immigration," says a spokesman.
The report will go before the European Parliament later this month. spokesman says it has "every chance of success".