The Seville summit will not be seen as an overwhelming success by either tony blair or Spain's Jose Maria Aznar. aznar certainly was not pleased that the trade unions chose to mark the end of his Prestiency of the EU with a successful general strike, or that the anti-globalisation protestors greeted the summit in such larpe The question of asylum and immigration was a key leaders, and the one that has dominated media coverage. Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw declared that all countries agreed on the importance of tackling the asylum issue. the electoral success of the far neht across turope. We are inoculating ourselves against the virus of the far reht. The waw vou deal with matters that the far right are seeking to exploit is by legitimate problem and then dealing with it, in a proporhumane way." he said.
Unfortunately this reactionary approach is not unique to Britain and Spain, pushed this agenda most determinedly in Seville.
which traditionally had a liberal mented new restrictive laws in the wake of the election ment, propped up by the extreme right Danish People's Party.
As right-wing govemments more of EU countries, we can look forward to tougher laws being implemented at a national level to complesummits. From this point of about coped with a singje view, while it is positive that tier EU of 15 will not meet the most restrictive propos bership - and one in which it is clear that not every coun be no doubt that Fortress curope is alive and well. weight. EU President For the anti-globalisation Romano Prodi takes this into movement this must mean account with his proposals that the question of asylum for an inner cabinet. has to take a higher place All of these questions will on our political agenda. have to be addressed with Links between the move- sharper focus under the ments need to be strength. forthooming Danish ened across Europe, actions Presidency.