EU big guns want migration on summit agenda

French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Ministers Romano Prodi of Italy and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain have written to EU President Jose Manuel Barroso asking him to put the issue of illegal migration on the informal agenda of the EU heads of government meeting next month and to put it formally on their December agenda.

"It is ironic that we have freedom of movement in the EU but each country has its own migration policies. There should be a common policy on migration within the EU," Mr Prodi said.

Asked by The Times for his comments about the illegal migration situation in the Mediterranean and the success or otherwise of Frontex, Mr Prodi said the issue of illegal migration was becoming more serious and that was what prompted him, together with Mr Chirac and Mr Zapatero, to request that the issue be formally put on the EU agenda.

"We need strong cooperation with countries in the south of the Mediterranean and active cooperation with Africa in order to help the countries where the immigrants are coming from. Patrols alone will not solve the problem," he said.

Frontex, the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of EU Member States, is responsible for coordinating the activities of the national border guards in ensuring the security of the EU's borders with non-member states.

Frontex had been due to start patrols just north of Libyan waters this month but plans were stalled after objections by Libya which is demanding EU assistance for patrols in the desert, from where illegal immigrants move into Libya.

Speaking on Saturday Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said European nations should pay €10 billion a year to Africa to help it stop migrants seeking a better life flooding northwards into Europe.

He said African and European leaders should meet soon to discuss the problem, which has soared to unprecedented levels and touched off political disputes in many European states. Colonel Gaddafi was speaking at a meeting of African presidents and prime ministers marking the seventh anniversary of a summit where it was decided to set up the African Union.

Mr Prodi said the problem with Frontex was that there were no binding agreements about how this would operate with non-EU countries. He said he believed that the EU had to work to form its own policy on migration but it should also work on a tangible programme that could be implemented together with African countries from where the immigrants were leaving.

Mr Prodi said he discussed the issue with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi last week. "We cannot solve this on our own. We have to work with the African Union about this and we must involve the African countries from where the immigrants are coming.

"When they are at sea, the only thing you can do is receive them. We need a real leap to solve the problem. A common EU policy is the start," he said.

Asked about the matter, Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said he was aware of the letter that was sent to the President of the Commission as Mr Prodi had spoken to him about it during an informal meeting at the EU-Asia Summit.

"The issue has been pushed by Malta for a long time and the EU is putting it on the agenda.

"We appreciate the efforts being made by Commissioner Franco Frattini and EU president Jose Manuel Barroso but at the same time we insist that the issue of illegal migration is given the closest attention possible," Dr Gonzi said.