BRITAIN is to give up full sovereignty over immigration and asylum policy, allowing other European countries to outvote it on one of the most sensitive political issues.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, who goes to Luxembourg on Monday to meet the interior ministers of all 25 European Union countries, will agree to give up the national veto on asylum and immigration policies, as well as in areas of civil law and justice.

The Times has obtained a leaked copy of proposals contained in a five-year plan for immigration and justice policy, called the “Hague Programme”, which will be discussed on Monday.

The aim is to accelerate the creation of a “Common European Asylum System”, possibly including an EU asylum office to process all the Continent’s asylum claims, a European Border Guard to combat illegal immigration and check passports, and a common EU consular service issuing visas around the world. With the EU enlarged to 25 countries, Britain believes that agreement is possible only if each country sacrifices its veto and accepts a majority decision.

Under the proposal that Mr Blunkett will agree on Monday, all EU countries will give up their veto on asylum policy from April 1 next year.

However, the Government insists that under existing treaty agreements, the UK, as well as Ireland, can opt out of policies they do not like.

A government spokesman said: “If we didn’t have the protection we have already negotiated, we would be far more cautious about moving to qualified majority voting. For the UK, it is win, win. We get faster decision-making, and we don’t have to implement things we don’t want to.”

But David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, told TheTimes: “Maintaining control of your immigration and asylum system is vital to the British national interest. It is another strategic mistake in the government’s asylum policy.”

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the anti-immigration group Migrationwatch, said: “This means that future asylum policy will be made in Brussels and enforced in Brussels. It is highly unsatisfactory for such a sensitive issue. Britain’s interests will be submerged by those of 24 other countries, many of whom seem content to wave asylum seekers through to the UK.”

The Government had agreed to give up the veto over immigration policy in the European Constitution. It is one of its most controversial measures, and would have been central to the Conservative’s campaign in the referendum on it, expected in 2006.

By giving up the veto before the referendum, the Government may hope to take the sting out of the opponents’ campaign.

Neil O’Brien, of the Vote No campaign, said: “They’re implementing the constitution ahead of schedule — it will make the referendum seem a bit of a joke. However, it could create a backlash.”

While retaining national vetos, EU governments have agreed four sets of minimum standards for asylum policies around the EU, such as qualification criteria which aim to reduce “asylum shopping”, where asylum-seekers move from one country to another searching for the best option.

Many governments now wish to create a fully common system. “The aims of the Common European Asylum System in its second phase will be the establishment of a common asylum procedure and a uniform status for those who are granted asylum or subsidiary protection” the “Hague Programme” says.

Proposals also include common procedures for deporting illegal immigrants, and spreading accepted asylum-seekers more fairly around.

Britain opposes pushing ahead too fast with a full European Asylum System, but once it gives up the veto it will be unable to stop others developing one if they wish.

The “Hague Programme” also involves creating a European Public Prosecutor, able to launch cases against criminal suspects, a European version of the FBI to investigate cross-border crimes, and mutual recognition of court judgments. Any dispute over interpretation of the agreements will be decided by the European Court of Justice.

Mr Davis said: “These amount to the Government giving up key aspects of what it means to be a nation state.”

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