EU/Latin America

Chavez threatens oil cut-off over European immigration rules

Article published on the 2008-06-20 Latest update 2008-06-20 12:57 TU

Javier Solana.
(Photo: Reuters)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened on Thursday to shut down fuel imports to Europe if the European Union puts tough new immigration rules into practice. The laws, which were passed on Wednesday, have triggered outrage throughout Latin America. They come into effect in 2010.

 “Our Petroleum should not go to these European countries”, Chavez warned at a press conference alongside Paraguayan President, Fernando Lugo.

The laws allow immigrants to be detained for up to 18 months prior to expulsion. Those denied residency will be given two options: to return home or face “removal”.

“Unfortunately, in Europe the right - currents of the right and extreme right, some close to fascism and ultra-nationalism – is dominating,” Chavez claimed and asked if concentration camps would be opened to hold immigrants.

 EU Foreign Policy chief called the Venezuelan President's reaction "absolutely disproportionate".

Other Latin American countries, including Bolivia, Peru, Brazil and Uruguay, have slammed the bill and are calling for international support to press for the laws to be repealed.

Bolivia’s socialist president Evo Morales declared “attack people’s lives and rights”. Ecuador’s President Raphael Correa vowed form a united front against the EU’s “hatred initiative”.

"We are working with our neighbours, firstly with the Andean community ... and other countries that we see as ourt friends," Ecuador's Junior Minister for Migration Lorena Escudero told RFI's Spanish-language service.

Spain on Thursday extended the period that immigrants can be held in custody to 60 days, from the previous 40.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is on the verge of unveiling new “immigration pacts” in July when he takes up the presidency of the EU.

Friday is World Refugee Day.