European Union Justice and Home Affairs Ministers meeting in Dublin Castle have set up a €30m fund to increase the number of illegal immigrants who are repatriated.
The fund will be used to fly illegal immigrants out of member states and to help reintegrate them in their home countries.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said he is hopeful the EU will harmonise its procedures on asylum seekers by 1 May, the deadline set down in the Amsterdam Treaty.
Mr McDowell was speaking as ministers from 28 different European countries met for the second major political gathering of Ireland's EU presidency.
The minister said he did not believe a harmonisation of EU asylum laws would lead to an increase in asylum seekers coming to Europe.
Agreement sought
The Irish presidency is trying to get agreement on a set of basic principles and guarantees for those seeking asylum.
But the UN High Commission for Refugees and Amnesty International are concerned the proposals may severely restrict the right of individuals to be considered for asylum.
In particular they are worried that the so-called safe third country principles proposed could mean whole groups of people are excluded from having their cases for asylum considered.
The UNHCR is also critical of a proposal to deport people who have had their request for asylum turned down before their final appeal for refugee status has been heard.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, has warned that the forthcoming enlargement of the EU may overwhelm the asylum system in some new member states.
