On their arrival, several participants expressed the need for a common EU approach to the burgeoning problem of illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings as the EU expands eastward.

On the eve of the meeting in this northwestern Spanish town, some 1,500 anto-globalization activists demonstrated under the watchful eyes of hundreds police. The demonstrators carried banners proclaiming, "union, action, self-management against globalisation."

Spanish Justice Minister Angel Acebes, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, suggested earlier in Madrid that existing bilateral accords between the US and many of the 15 EU members be grouped under a single umbrella treaty on police cooperation, intelligence exchange and extradition.

In the wake of the September 11 attacks on the US, the EU has moved quickly to adopt a Europe-wide search and arrest warrant, a common definition of terrorist crimes and punishments, and a list of terrorist organizations.



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Spanish Presidency advocates "facilitating legal immigration" and "avoiding illegal immigration" - press release