French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday reiterated his demands for a harmonization of European immigration legislation, according to dpa. Speaking during his visit to the Austrian capital Vienna ahead of France taking over the rotating EU presidency on July 1, he stressed his determination to fight illegal immigration. "I am not against immigrants," Sarkozy said. "Immigration is positive, but only in its legal form," he said but reiterated in the days of 22 members having abolished their border controls due to the Schengen agreement, Europe's citizens needed to see that there was an EU-wide approach to migration. "Africa is only 12 kilometres from Europe," he said. "And 475 million young Africans have not yet reached the age of 17." In view of these facts it would be prudent to harmonize EU policy and create uniform criteria for migration, he said. Sarkozy and Austria's Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer stressed their determination to join forces in the fight against illegal immigration. Europe's industries must have a fair chance to compete with countries like Brazil, India or China despite having to take strong measures to fight climate change, Sarkozy said. Sarkozy said those countries also had to join the international effort against climate change. The EU was working on developing a system to support those countries while at the same time ensuring fair competition for Europe's industry, Sarkozy said. France and Austria were in broad agreement on most policy issues. Opinion differences, for example on nuclear power - which Austria strongly opposes - could be set aside by focusing on common goals, Sarkozy said.
