Details for the Frontex joint-sea patrols in Mediterranean waters were decided upon during at two day meeting in Valletta. Although no date has been established, it is hoped that the patrols kick-off in mid-September.
Among the details of the action plan is a proposal which establishes that illegal immigrants caught trying to cross over to Europe will be stopped and forced to turn back to where they departed from. Furthermore, five countries have pledged to support the border control mission, aimed at decreasing the numbers of illegal immigrants who head towards Europe from Africa.
Frontex is to ensure the boats being used by the illegal immigrants are safe enough for them to head back to their country of departure, which in many cases is Libya.
Officials from a number of countries, along with officials from Frontex, Europol, the Malta police and the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) were among those who participated in the meeting which ended on Tuesday afternoon.
According to The Times of Malta a Home Affairs Ministry spokesman is hoping that the mission will start by mid-September. "Our aim is to provide a deterrent to immigration and to reduce the risk of more deaths. The plan is to persuade the immigrants to turn back," the spokesman told The Times.
The patrols are expected to run for two or three weeks. Subsequently they will be subjected to an analysis to see if the strategy requires improvement.
The proposals, drawn up on Tuesday, require the go-ahead of EU member states, however it is unlikely that they will face opposition.
Earlier this month the European Union launched its first joint border patrol aimed at stopping illegal immigrants coming to the Canary Islands from Africa. In turn, Maltese, Libyan and Italian officials will meet on the 6th September to discuss problems that illegal immigration is posing to each of the three countries.
Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature:
Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.
See also:
Final talks for Malta sea patrols underway
By MaltaMedia News
Aug 16, 2006, 09:20 CET
Tripartite immigration meeting set for September
By MaltaMedia News
Aug 27, 2006, 10:54 CET
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