As the European Union has launched its first joint border patrol aimed at stopping illegal immigrants coming to the Canary Islands from Africa, Brussels denied that it is building a "fortress Europe".
Similar patrols are set to take place in Maltese waters in the upcoming days, however the EU has not confirmed a date as yet because Frontex officials are still going through the final details with their counterparts in Malta, Italy and Greece, reported EUObserver.
Announcing the move on Friday EU justice and home affairs commissioner Franco Frattini said the operation would have "a humanitarian character" as it would combine "saving lives at sea, as well as reducing illegal immigration and combating trafficking in human beings."
The Canary Islands mission, dubbed Hera II, is expected to last nine weeks and is covered by an EU budget of Lm 1.3 million (€3.2 million, $4.0 million) with Spain co-financing the project.
"The ultimate aim is to prevent these ships from setting off on the dangerous journey," said the Frontex spokeswoman Daniela Munzbergova.
Hera II follows an earlier phase of the mission, known as Hera I. It which involved a group of experts from various EU states visiting to the Canary Islands and are aiding Spanish authorities with the identification of migrants. These experts also visited Malta for the same reasons. FRONTEX high officials have already visited Malta on three occasions in the past three months to set up a plan for assistance. Following these three visits they went for the first time in Lampedusa, another place particularly affected by the influx if illegal immigrants landing on its shores.
Earlier this summer, the EU called on Libya to open its territorial waters for a surveillance mission off the Maltese coasts. However, Libya failed to provide an answer. The operations will still be carried out just a few meters away from the Libyan sea borders.
So far, 1,278 illegal immigrants have reached Maltese land this year. 70 of these were repatriated earlier this month, leaving the total of illegal immigrants present in Malta at 1,208.
Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature:
Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.
See also:
Joint sea operation on migration flows ready to be launched
By MaltaMedia News
Aug 11, 2006, 17:00 CET
Justice Commissioner suggests joint patrolling
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 30, 2006, 11:20 CET
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