Editorial

It is becoming somewhat hard nowadays keeping pace with developments over attempts being made to check the flow of illegal immigrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Only days after the European Union border agency Frontex had to put off the start of sea patrols in the centre of the Mediterranean following Libya's strong objection to them, Italy and Libya were reported to have reached a bilateral agreement for collaboration in the fight against illegal immigration. Yesterday, a European Commission spokesman told this newspaper that the EU patrols will go ahead despite Libya's opposition to them, on instructions from Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini.

Since details of the Italy-Libya agreement are sparse as yet, it is difficult to analyse the situation. Why would Libya reach agreement with Italy and not with the EU?

Last week, Libya's Foreign Minister dismissed comments reportedly made earlier by the Justice Commissioner that his country was seriously considering joining the plan to run the Frontex sea patrols if it were to be given assistance from the EU to patrol its desert borders. As the date for the start of the patrols approached, the minister flew to Rome and told Mr Frattini that rather than taking unilateral decisions (over plans to run the patrols), the EU should first concentrate on helping Libya deal with its southern borders.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was seen to be complicating matters even further when he was quoted saying that European nations should pay €10 billion a year to Africa to help it stop illegal immigrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Now, in a confusing turns of events, Italy and Libya have reportedly agreed to collaborate in an agreement that even includes the running of sea patrols. How did this new development come about? Where does Malta fit in, if at all? Again, it is difficult to say, although any sea patrols run by Italy and Libya would obviously be of direct benefit to Malta too. Will the Frontex patrols, meant to be handled by Italy, Greece and Malta, be able to coordinate with the Italy-Libya operation, given the latter's stance?

What is very clear, though, is that the problem of illegal immigration, as it has developed up to now, exposes the lack of foresight displayed by the EU in responding, in time, to the plight of its southern members, including Malta, hit by the growing influx of illegal immigrants from North Africa.

At last, though, matters appear to be moving. Three heads of government are pressing for the issue to be put at the top of the agenda of an EU heads of government meeting next month, and all the 25 European Commissioners will be visiting Africa, also next month, for talks with the Commission of the African Union.

Africa does need help - in more ways than one. As to Libya, it is all very well to expect assistance from the EU to help it stem the influx of immigrants from its southern borders, but on its part it should also seek to be reasonable in its demands and cooperate, as it has now decided to do with Italy, in any work meant to stop human traffickers from using the country as a springboard. The nefarious activities risk destabilising communities in other countries.

Border patrols may not solve the problem but they could go a long way towards checking the influx. As the sea starts to get rougher, stemming the flow of immigrants better than any patrols could, one would hope that the issues with Libya are cleared up and the EU puts its full weight behind taking action - before the coming spring heralds a new mass influx.