Patrols to be launched 'soon'

Frontex will launch patrols in the Mediterranean Sea in the next few weeks to stop migrants arriving from Libya, the bloc's top border official said yesterday.

Frontex chief Ilkka Laitinen said the patrols would be launched even if a deal with Libya - which has not agreed to Frontex boats entering its waters - was not reached.

Moreover, he called on European Union members to provide more boats, aircraft and manpower to tighten security at points where illegal immigrants are entering Europe.

Each month, thousands of African migrants risk their lives on the high seas in small fishing boats or rubber dinghies hoping to enter Europe via Spain's Canary Islands, Italy's Lampedusa and Sicily islands or Malta.

The Warsaw-based agency Frontex is patrolling waters off Spain's Canary Islands and plans a similar mission south of Italy to curb the flow of migrants.

But Mr Laitinen said the impact of such missions was limited because his agency is dependent on voluntary contributions from EU member states. For the Canary Islands patrol, member countries donated two boats and two aircraft.

"I call for more voluntary provisions to assist those countries that are in trouble," Mr Laitinen said in an interview at his office in Warsaw.

Frontex has a 2006 budget of around €16 million, less than the cost of a single helicopter outfitted with surveillance equipment.

Portugal and Italy donated one ship each to Frontex's patrol between Senegal and the Canary Islands, which is assisting the Spanish coast guard. Italy and Finland contributed one aircraft each. But Senegal alone has 730 km of coastline.