EU states 'more disposed to helping'

Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg yesterday called on his EU counterparts to put into practice the recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament on illegal immigration in Malta. Dr Borg intervened forcefully during a Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council meeting in Luxembourg which discussed various issues related to migration.

Speaking to The Times after the meeting, Dr Borg said his appeal was well received.

"I have noticed a shift following the European Parliament resolution. Member states seem to understand our difficulties and are more disposed to helping us.

"We must, however, persist with our pressure as this is not something which can be resolved overnight."

Sources close to the Council yesterday told The Times that during the closed meeting, many member states spoke on Malta's specific needs and said that something needed to be done urgently.

Finland, Greece and the Netherlands were among the most receptive states and voiced their opinions in favour of Malta.

Earlier this month, the European Parliament overwhelmingly backed a resolution proposing concrete steps to be taken by the EU to help Malta and similar periphery states dealing with sudden invasions of illegal immigrants.

During the meeting, Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini announced that the Commission was finalising preparations to organise an international conference in Libya on illegal immigration.

The conference will convene representatives from member states and the countries of origin of many of the illegal immigrants.

At the same time, the EU border control agency, Frontex, will next month present an action plan to the Justice and Home Affairs Council on a new system of satellite monitoring of ships in the Mediterranean.

It is suspected illegal immigrants are being transferred from large vessels coming from Africa onto small boats on which they continue their journey to Europe.