PN presents resolution at EPP congress

A resolution by the Nationalist Party on illegal immigration will be put to the vote today during the second and final day of the European People's Party congress meeting in Rome.

The resolution calls on all EU members states to support the European Commission in various initiatives being taken to assist small member states on the periphery of Europe, like Malta, to cope better with the problem of illegal immigration.

The resolution specifically mentions the setting up of a rapid response team to profile and seek the identity of immigrants landing on EU shores and the allocation of special emergency funds.

The PN resolution also calls on EU member states "to support all efforts at burden-sharing of the problem being faced by member states, and all measures to create a corps of coast guards to improve the fight against criminal behaviour at sea as mentioned in the EPP action programme".

The resolution was discussed yesterday by the EPP's political bureau.

The PN is represented at the congress by a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg and which includes Nationalist MEPs Simon Busuttil and David Casa and PN international secretary John Bonello.

The congress, themed Our Aim - Your Europe, was officially opened by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

This year's congress coincides with the 30th anniversary of the founding of the EPP and delegates will today elect a new president and other top officials of the party. Over 800 representatives of 68 political parties from 35 European countries that are full members, associate members or have observer status are attending the congress. Fifteen European prime ministers are also present.