Caracas  - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Thursday threatened not to sell oil to any country that enforces strict new European Union rules for deporting illegal immigrants.

"Our petroleum should not go to these European countries" that apply the new laws, said Chavez when meeting with visiting Paraguayan President-elect Fernando Lugo, who also voiced his opposition to the law.

Lugo said the law is against human rights.

The European Union adopted tough new rules Wednesday on illegal immigrants, allowing detention for up to 18 months prior to expulsion.

The EU directive, which received 369 votes in favour and 197 against, also regulates the deportation of illegal migrants to their country of origin and clarifies rules on the access by non-governmental organizations to EU detention centres.

Chavez labeled the new rules which could come into force in 2010 "outrageous" and "the directive of shame."

The socialist president said his government would "review the investments that they (the Europeans) have here to see if we can also apply a 'return directive'."

He added that Latin American countries could decide "the return of European investments" just as European nations could return undocumented immigrants to their country of origin.

Under the directive, once expelled, illegal immigrants will not be allowed back into the EU for five years. (dpa)