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In a statement released by the European Commission, Vice President Franco Frattini stated that the joint sea operation on tackling migration flows to the Canary Islands, HERA-II, is ready to be launched. No specific dates have yet been confirmed on when the patrols in Maltese waters are due to begin.
The operations will be co-ordinated by FRONTEX, the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union.
FRONTEX has recently sent six experts from different Member States to assist the Immigration Police section in the fight against illegal immigration particularly during the Summer months. These experts are already in Malta and are helping the police in identifying the nationality of the illegal immigrants disembarking in Malta. 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.
Vice President Franco Frattini said that he has been informed by Director-General Ilka Laitinen of FRONTEX that the joint sea operation on tackling migration flows to the Canary Islands, HERA-II, is ready to be launched. He added that this is truly a historic moment in the history of EU immigration policies and a very tangible expression of EU solidarity amongst Member states.
Frattini said that this is the solidarity in action he promised to the government and citizens of Spain, and those of the Canary Islands in particular, and this is the kind of support the governments and citizens from Malta and Italy also receive in addressing their specific migration pressures. The second stage of a Mediterranean border control operation, entitled Jason, will also be launched as soon as possible.
These operations are not about building Fortress Europe these operation have a humanitarian character, aiming at saving lives at sea, as well as reducing illegal immigration and combating trafficking in human beings, a crime from which only traffickers benefit.
These operations furthermore form part and parcel of a wider EU comprehensive approach in addressing migration, in particular migration from Africa. Except for measures in addressing illegal immigration, this approach also includes exploring possibilities for legal migration, aims at avoiding brain drain so detrimental to countries of origin, and rather to look at engaging migrants in the further development of their country, and includes programmes to assist refugees getting access to international protection sooner and closer to their needs.
The operations are also fully in line with the Rabat Action Plan on a Euro-African Partnership for Migration and Development, 56 countries of origin, transit and destination agreed upon last month in Rabat, which also includes cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration.
Frattini concluded by saying that he is extremely grateful to the governments of the various Member States involved in this particular operation for their assistance, knowledge and equipment offered. This is what Europe is about.
See also:
FRONTEX experts to help Immigration Police
by MaltaMedia News - Aug 4, 2006
© Copyright 2006 - MaltaMedia Online Network
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