EU Affairs
No dates for Malta illegal immigration patrols
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 25, 2006, 11:02

On Monday European Union (EU) Justice Ministers were briefed about two border patrol missions to take place in the Mediterranean in a bid to control the arrival of illegal immigrants crossing over to Europe from the North African coast. However, the date as to when these patrol will begin were not disclosed. Another meeting concerning these patrols is expected to be held in Malta next week.

The patrol mission off the Maltese coast will include surveillance by Italian, Maltese and Greek vessels.

According to The Times patrols off the Spanish Canary Islands are in a much more advanced stage than those planned for the area close to Malta. Frontex, the EU border control agency stated that the patrols near the Spanish islands are set to begin next month. They will last for seven weeks.

After the meeting, Justice and Internal Affairs Minister Tonio Borg told The Times that Malta is satisfied that the EU is finally responding to its requests. In turn, it was revealed that no date has been specified for the initiation of the patrol in Maltese waters because Libya is yet to confirm specify whether it agrees that the EU mission will also patrol its territorial waters.

In turn, it was revealed that Frontex, the EU border control agency a team of experts will arrive Malta next week to help process applications by asylum seekers.

Speaking during the meeting, European Commissioner for justice Franco Frattini, said that border patrol missions in the Mediterranean will be financed until the end of September through a Lm1.2 million (€3 million, $ 3.7 million) budget.

Speaking during the meeting on Monday Maltese Minister Tonio Borg stated that Malta needs immediate financial help to finance the capital sum for illegal immigrants’ detention centres. Although the Minister welcomed EU Commissioner Franco Frattini’s recent proposal for joint sea-patrolling, he stated that these are only one form of solidarity.

In the recent weeks, Malta’s Foreign Minister Michael Frendo urged the EU to do more for Malta’s surmounting illegal immigration crisis.

See also:

Detention centres need money - Minister Borg
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 24, 2006, 16:10 CET

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