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Simon Busuttil calls for launch of Frontex mission
By MaltaMedia News
Apr 15, 2008 - 5:02:11 PM
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MEP Simon Busuttil has called on Frontex to immediately launch the Nautilus mission in the Mediterranean and to ensure that it continues without interruption throughout the whole immigration season.
In a letter to Frontex Executive Director Brig. Gen. Ilkka Laitinen sent on Tuesday, Dr Busuttil stated that as the milder weather starts setting in, the flow of illegal trips across the Mediterranean organised by criminal organisations, will resume. He also noted that this will lead to more tragic incidents, loss of life and inevitably, Mediterranean countries arguing over who should receive the immigrants.
 "Countries such as Malta, which with great difficulty are still hosting thousands of immigrants who arrived in previous years, cannot afford to shoulder a greater burden" Dr Busuttil wrote to Laitenen.
"I therefore call upon you to take timely action to address this situation. In particular, I ask you to launch this year's Nautilus mission in the central Mediterranean region without delay and to ensure that it continues without interruption throughout the entire immigration season."
This year's Nautilus mission will for the first time cover a period six consecutive months, following Dr Busuttil's successful initiative to increase Frontex's budget for 2008 by €30 million (Lm12.88m). Frontex has allocated more than €8 million (Lm3.47m) specifically to be used for this year's mission in the central Mediterranean region.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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May 7, 2008 - 11:23:39 PM CET
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