Justice and interior ministers from the bloc's 27 member states are due to discuss ways of curbing the flow of illegal immigrants, mainly from poor African countries, when holding informal talks in the eastern German city of Dresden on Jan. 14 to 16.

Germany currently runs the rotating presidency of the EU.

German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has said he would seek to broaden access to asylum-seekers' fingerprints for both EU police and justice authorities. At present such data can only be used by asylum officials.

For the first time, EU ministers are also expected to look at ways of opening up channels for legal immigration to help combat labor shortages in Europe. However, the focus will be on giving foreigners temporary migration opportunities to meet specific EU labor market needs.

EU officials have said that the bloc must try to attract economic migrants, "particularly those who are highly skilled," to compensate for falling birth rates and an ageing population. Member states, however, would keep their right to determine national quotas on immigration.

EU officials say about half a million illegal immigrants enter the bloc each year. Spain, Italy and Greece are in the front line in the struggle to curb the flow.

Divorce over national borders

With so-called Fortress Europe crumbling under pressure from economic migrants and asylum-seekers, especially from Africa, EU leaders have promised to toughen border controls in problem regions.

Schäuble has said that he wants national governments to strengthen the bloc's border watchdog Frontex by boosting its funding, resources and powers. In addition, Berlin wants member states to work closer together in the return of immigrants.

The agenda for the Dresden meeting also includes German proposals to improve the application of divorce law for nationals of one EU member state living in another. Integration and intercultural dialogue are other issues flagged by the German presidency.

Schäuble suggested recently that EU states should train Islamic clerics so they can help integrate Muslims into European society rather than promote separation.