The Commissioner added that the European Union (EU) is seeking Libya’s help in the mission, which will be guided by Frontex. By May EU experts will head to the Libyan Desert bordering with Niger to assist Libya in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants.  

“It is the first time ever that a mission of this sort will take place, with helicopters and such means hailing for many European states,” explained Commissioner Frattini.  

Speaking in the light of a recently proposed directive, Commissioner Frattini also said that Europe will no longer tolerate illegal immigrants working illicitly in the bloc because the interest of agencies and labour organisations is at stake due to unfair competition.  

The proposed directive stipulates employers must undertake certain checks before recruiting a third-country national and notify a competent national authority. Employers who cannot show that they have complied with the obligations will be liable to fines and other administrative measures including jail sentences.  

However, the Commissioner also pointed out that European economy needs the contribution of immigrants. Citing a Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCSE) study, Europe will need at least 20 million more immigrants by 2050.

Parallel to this proposed directive, Brussels wants to guide legal immigration towards repatriation agreements with the immigrants’ countries of origin in an attempt to include them in the fight against illegal immigration.

This leads to the request of enforced border controls, readmitting immigrants expelled from the  EU and issuing secure identity cards, in exchange of legal immigration called for by various EU states.

Meanwhile, the UN agency for refugees has called on Maltese authorities to provide support to an illegal immigrant who was put in detention a day after surviving a harrowing tragedy at sea, which left 28 others missing, presumed dead, The Sunday Times reported.

The 21-year-old immigrant from the Ivory Coast was rescued by a Maltese fishing trawler, 75 nautical miles south of Malta on Friday. He had been afloat for up to ten hours in stormy seas.

While the illegal immigrant was winched onboard the AFM Alouette rescue-helicopter to be taken to St Luke’s hospital for treatment, a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission was launched to rescue any other possible survivors.  However the AFM search was later called off.

Neil Falzon, head of the UNHCR office in Malta, visited the immigrant at Safi centre on Saturday to find the 21-year-old immigrant reeling in shock and in tears."At this stage, we appeal and urge the government to give this man the psychological support he needs and release him from detention. He is very obviously traumatised," Dr Falzon told The Sunday Times.

While expressing concern for the missing, the UNHCR intends to refer the case to the Social Solidarity Minister and urge her to discharge the survivor on grounds of his vulnerability, the newspaper reported.

Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature: Lanċa Ġejja u Ohra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.