The European Commission launched two calls for proposals for actions in the areas of return of illegal
immigrants, employment of returnees, information on immigration and reception
challenges. The calls, launched on Monday and accounting for a total of Lm6 million (€14 million), were made after the adoption of the 2007 Work Programme for the new Preparatory
Action Solidarity in Action.
In the recent years problems related to influxes of illegal immigrants have
been increasing in Malta
and the island is set to benefit from the programme.
Speaking of the programme Vice President and Commissioner responsible for
issues related to Justice, Freedom and Security, Franco Frattini, stated that
it complements and financially underpins the European Union (EU) policy, which must adopt a comprehensive
response to the management of migratory flows, a challenge which is constantly
growing and evolving. “The EU is facing a rapid increase in migratory pressure,
especially on its southern borders. In response, the EU must therefore increase
its capability to respond to these challenges through enhanced solidarity and
burden sharing in the area of reception as well as in the cooperation between
Member states in the field of return of irregular migrants,” continued the
Commissioner.
This new budget line was voted in December 2006 by the European Parliament
in order to finance a number of actions in the area of migration which are
complementary to the general framework programme entitled 'Solidarity and
Management of Migration Flows' for the period between 2007 and 2013, and
which have the potential to provide additional answers to the challenges posed
by migratory flows.
This new programme contains various components which deal with the return of
illegal immigrants, employment of returnees, information on immigration and
reception challenges. The Return component is a continuation for a third year
of the Return Preparatory Actions 2005 and 2006, in anticipation of the launch
of the European Return Fund in 2008. It also aims at providing support
particularly in view of the challenges being faced by Member States that are
experiencing strong pressure on specific borders and on their migration
management systems. The component on employment is introduced in this
Preparatory Action in conformity with a request made by the European
Parliament.
Read more about this issue in MaltaMedia’s Special Feature Lanċa Ġejja u Ohra Sejra.
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