EU Affairs
Foreign Minister urges for joint patrolling
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 17, 2006, 20:13

While making an intervention on illegal immigration, inserted in the General Affairs agenda by the European Union’s (EU) Finnish Presidency at the request of Malta, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo insisted that the Frontex joint patrolling mission in the Central Mediterranean takes place this summer.

Speaking on Monday, the Foreign Minister Dr. Michael Frendo added that save for some exceptions Maltese feel alone and abandoned by the European Union with regards to the issue.

Indicating the severity of Malta's problem he explained that, on the basis of population density, the arrival of illegal immigrants in Malta, often on a daily basis, was equivalent to over 71,000 in Spain and 107,000 in France.

Minister Frendo said he appreciated that illegal immigration had a strong development dimension to it. "However", he said "it has also a strong element of international criminality since international criminal organizations are behind the trafficking and smuggling of human beings." While adding that this issue needs to be addressed directly he stated that throwing money at the problem of illegal immigration is not enough and will not make it go away.

Expressions of strong support for the item raised by Malta and for Malta's position were made by many member states including Spain, Italy, Greece, Estonia and Hungary.

In the recent weeks Minister Michael Frendo has urged the European Union to do more for Malta in the light of the numerous arrivals of illegal immigrants.

On Monday, 77 illegal immigrants reached Malta on three separate trips. The third boatload of illegal immigrants was brought into Haywharf by AFM members at around 1810CEST. The 19-foot-long vessel contained 25 passengers, including a woman and a child.

Earlier during the afternoon another group of 28 illegal immigrants was brought ashore after the AFM asked a commercial vessel set to dock in a Maltese port, to rescue the illegal immigrants and bring them ashore. The illegal immigrants are from Somalia.

In turn, another group of 24 illegal immigrants reached Delimara on a 18-foot-long boat. They landed near the power station at around 0030CEST. 17 of the illegal immigrants are men, while nine are women.

Police investigations continue.

Five boatloads of illegal immigrants reached Maltese shores in three days, pushing the total number of illegal immigrants to reach Malta since the beginning of the year up to 1,090.

In turn, the Spanish trawler with 50 illegal immigrants on board is still at a standstill 16 miles away from the Maltese coast, after authorities denied the vessel access to Malta. The Spanish trawler rescued the illegal immigrants in Libyan territorial waters on Saturday. On Sunday afternoon the Armed Forces dispatched provisions and the AFM doctor, accompanied by a Spanish diplomat.

Diplomatic talks on what will become of the illegal immigrants onboard the vessel Francesco Catalina are ongoing.

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

See also:

Illegal immigrants disembark in Marsaxlokk
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 16, 2006, 10:04 CET


Illegal immigrants brought ashore
By MaltaMedia News

Minister urges for illegal immigration solution
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 11, 2006, 10:54 CET


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