Britain said today a meeting will be held next week with other European countries to discuss ways to stop gangs trafficking illegal immigrants into the European Union.
Measures to be discussed include sending intelligence units and immigration police to regions like the Western Balkans to help local authorities deal with possible increased traffic in illegal immigrants and false asylum seekers.
Britain had 76,000 asylum requests last year, a seven per cent rise on the previous year.
"By working together we stand a better chance of tackling it," British Home Secretary Mr Jack Straw told fellow EU ministers meeting in the Swedish capital.
"The only people who have anything to fear from closer EU cooperation are the criminals who currently exploit the differences between us," he said.
Reuters