EU cracks down on people-smugglers

Border controls may be stepped up as part of the plan

European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels have agreed a plan to tackle human trafficking in the Balkans - after hearing the area had become the European capital for a criminal trade in human beings.

Under the plan, police training in the region will be boosted, along with co-operation with border officials.

The ministers, holding their first meeting under Sweden's presidency of the EU, have also pledged to step up their work at preventing conflicts around the world.

Many migrants reach EU territory by boat

The thorny question of speeding up the EU's notoriously-slow aid distribution system has also been high on the agenda.

The plan to tackle human trafficking in the Balkans comes after years of concern at the activities of criminal gangs in Bosnia and Yugoslavia.

Ministers were there was clear evidence that the Balkans had become a major transit route for illegal immigrants on their way to EU countries.

Chinese deaths

A paper presented by the UK said there were 40,000 Chinese nationals in Yugoslavia last year awaiting transport into the European Union.

The issue received particular focus last year when 58 Chinese men and women died of asphyxiation in the back of a lorry as they were being smuggled into the UK.

Under the plan, a programme would be a launched later this year to help improve police training in the countries of the western Balkans, said European Commissioner Chris Patten.

Mr Patten said the authorities in Bosnia and Yugoslavia were being pressed to help the EU combat human trafficking.

Speeding up EU aid is a priority for ministers

On other issues, ministers also called for a crackdown on the illegal trade in small arms and announced a ministerial visit to Belgrade to reaffirm their support for democracy there.

And early in the Brussels meeting, the ministers pledged to increase the use of their power to head off potential conflicts around the world by developing preventative techniques.

The ministers said they would work more closely with agencies like the United Nations and with non-governmental organisations.

Crisis prevention will cost us significant investment, but it will be very much cheaper than having to deal with the consequences of conflict

UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook

"The European Union itself came into existence as an exercise in conflict prevention... Building stability and preventing conflict is at the heart of our endeavours," said the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Mr Solana said the EU's planned new military rapid reaction force would help Europe play a more constructive role in crisis prevention in troubled regions.

Other ministers stressed the roles which diplomacy, dialogue and trade pressure might also play.

"Crisis prevention will cost us significant investment, but it will be very much cheaper than having to deal with the consequences of conflict," British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook told the gathering.

Several ministers emphasised the importance of the enlargement of the EU in preventing conflict.

Mr Cook called on the Swedish presidency to discuss the EU's code of conduct on arms sales with candidate countries.