BBC News Online: World: Europe

Police chiefs from EU and Turkey end all-day talks on illegal immigrants

Police chiefs from seven European Union countries and Turkey have ended an all-day meeting in Rome to discuss the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants from Turkey and other countries in the developing world.

The head of the German delegation Rudger Kass said they had made a big step forward and had agreed on a number of measures - though he did not say what they were.

On Wednesday, EU immigration officials recommended increased police action to track down the criminal gangs organising migrant escape routes into Europe.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service