EUROPE, LAND OF THE FAITHFUL

Of the 650.000 illegal immigrants ordered out of Europe last year two-thirds managed to remain. So, it's time for a crackdown, kind of:

In order to bring 'asylum shopping' and illegal immigration to an end, the commission called upon member states to adopt stricter common rules governing the return of illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers to their home countries.

At the moment sharp differences in national legislation encourage immigrants to move from one EU country to another to seek the safest haven.

The proposals would see a Europe-wide ban placed on any illegal immigrant convicted of terrorist acts or judged a threat to national and public security from entering a member state for a minimum of five years.

Whoa, commit a terrorist act and get banned for five whole years. What else is in store for illegals?

But they would also ensure that illegal immigrants could only be kept in custody for six months. Immigrants would also have the right to appeal against decisions to expel them.

The commission underlined the principle of voluntary return by establishing a general rule that a "period for departure" should normally be granted. After this period, a removal order should be issued and executed.

The commissioner said that the measures were a "balanced" initiative that guaranteed illegal immigrants legal entity, while at the same time counteracting the "popular scepticism" which can feed extremist anti-immigration movements across Europe.

Raising concern over extremist groups and undemocratic view amongst immigrant groups across Europe, the commissioner also suggested that immigrants swear an oath "of faithfulness" to European values.

The EU has become a parody of itself.