Blunkett plans EU border force

David Blunkett is today putting forward plans to create a rapid-reaction "border guard" force which could prevent illegal immigrants exploiting weak frontier points.

The Home Secretary is stepping up pressure on his fellow European ministers in Luxembourg to back a package of much tighter asylum and immigration policies.

One of the proposals is to create a multinational taskforce, including British officers, which would tackle weaknesses in the European Union border. Some of the first countries to be targeted would be Turkey, Lebanon, Albania, Poland and the former Yugoslavia, amid concern at how criminal gangs are exploiting unprotected areas.

According to the Home Office, the setting-up of "rapid joint operations" would give a priority to "detecting, disrupting, and dismantling trafficking networks".

Mr Blunkett is also putting forward a controversial plan to link EU aid to those countries which do more to curb illegal immigration, although this has been opposed by International Development Secretary Clare Short.

The rate of deportations may also be stepped up, using the RAF and the Royal Navy, as well as dealing with illegal boat journeys by asylumseekers across the Mediterranean.

A paper produced by the Home Office also suggests it is time for Europe to "identify ways of maximising early returns to Afghanistan". This may prove difficult, however, as the country is still not seen by some aid agencies as safe enough for rejected asylum seekers to be returned.

However, Mr Blunkett is adamant that there has to be a proper action plan in place which will allow failed asylum-seekers to be returned to "safe countries of origin".

He wants to reform the present Dublin Convention on applications for asylum, so that those who have come to Britain through more than one European country could be returned to the last state from which they left.

Labour MEP Claude Moraes said today's talks are the start of a process which is likely to produce a new agreement to replace the convention.

Today's meeting sets the scene for the EU summit in Seville next week, where Tony Blair will argue that the problems with asylum-seekers must be dealt with across the union, and cannot be hedged.

Meanwhile, the Government managed to get its Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill through the Commons last night after a group of rebel Labour MPs threatened to fight it.

The proposals will now be picked over by the Lords where Tories, Lib-Dems and some Labour MPs have said they will try to make changes.

Plans to segregate asylum children from mainstream schools had caused Labour anger, but Mr Blunkett offered the concession of allowing the children to be educated in normal schools after they had spent six months at an accommodation centre.

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