European leaders met in Greece this week to discuss the management of migration in the European Union. Officials were expected to discuss reinforcement of immigration checks at the union's borders and the creation of a new agency to coordinate joint EU border-control operations in the

Mediterranean Sea, and other areas such as the Italian coast that have been swamped by illegal immigrants. Leaders were prepared to debate ways to control the influx of illegal immigrants and streamline immigration laws so that the EU can better share the burden of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers. Britain hopes to reach an accord that would prevent “asylum shopping.” Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who currently holds the rotating, six-month presidency of the EU, hopes to generate a consensus for improved management of legal migration now, before it admits 10 new members and its borders expand northward, eastward and southward. Greece wants the EU to create a database of EU visas and increase security at border checkpoints.

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Australia’s Family Court ruled Wednesday that it has power to release children being held in detention centers and said the indefinite detention of children was unlawful. The ruling was another blow to the Government’s policy on mandatory detention, but administration officials said they might appeal to the High Court.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock, said the ruling gives the wrong message to people smugglers, saying he believes immigration detention laws were "beyond the reach" of the Family Court’s jurisdiction.

According to they Sydney Morning Herald, there are currently 85 children of asylum seekers in detention centers, 10 in alternative detention at Woomera, and seven living in foster homes.

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A group of 150 immigrant detainees in Malta broke out of their detention center and rioted after one of them was placed in solitary confinement for attempting to escape. A policeman was injured and property was damaged in a series of clashes Tuesday night between police and the detainees, who are among 1000 immigrants at the center scheduled to be deported. Wednesday morning officials said the situation had returned to normal.

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Italian Reform Minister Umberto Bossi is under fire for remarks he made in an interview published by Italian daily Corriere della Sera, in which he seemed to call for the use of military force to drive away illegal immigrants.

Bossi said that he was impatient with the government's failure to implement new immigration legislation that was approved a year ago by parliament.

"On Friday, I want to hear the sound of cannons,” Bossi was quoted as saying. “Otherwise, I'm saying goodbye."

He later denied the quote and accused newspaper of inventing the comments.

"The content of the interview does not reflect my thinking in any way nor does it reflect the sense of my words in what was a very brief exchange," he said.

Despite his denial, the Minister is facing a storm of criticism from several government leaders, both opponents and allies.

"This is a caveman idea," said UDC Party leader Marco Follini. "Bossi says he wants to hear cannons, many others would like to hear him be quiet."