Frattini pledges €3m in aid to Libya

EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini yesterday announced that the European Commission will grant Libya €3million to help it tackle illegal immigration.

The news was welcomed by Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg who said: "This announcement is another concrete commitment by the EU to help Malta and Italy".

Dr Borg said the more Libya is assisted, the fewer illegal immigrants are likely to come to the island's shores.

The money is for Libya to buy 10 desert patrol vehicles and night visors.

Speaking during a press conference at the end of an informal meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers in Tempere, Finland, Mr Frattini said: "I know this money will not solve all the problems Libya is encountering on illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa but this is a clear political message to Libya.

"We hope that in return, we will get collaboration from the Libyan authorities on our project of joint sea and air patrols in the Mediterranean against illegal immigrants."

EU diplomatic sources told The Times that the granting of these funds, the first such move in the EU's history, is aimed at nudging Libya to join, or at least collaborate with, the Jason 1 operation to be coordinated by the EU border control agency Frontex in the seas between Italy, Malta and Libya, and conducted by a number of EU countries including Malta.

Mr Frattini yesterday said Libya is now in a better position to consider collaborating with these patrols.

"The Libyans have now authorised me to say they are ready to accept the coordination by Frontex of joint patrols in the Mediterranean.

"This is good news and we hope Frontex can in future coordinate work that can be done by Italy, Malta and Libya," he said.

A few weeks ago, Libya objected to these patrols and criticised Mr Frattini for taking unilateral decisions without consulting Tripoli. Libya had also made it clear it will not permit these patrols to enter its territorial waters.

Due to this resistance Frontex had to postpone the start of Jason 1 which was scheduled for September 7.

The EU is seriously considering whether it should offer Libya Frontex patrols in its southern desert borders with Chad and Niger. The Commission will be conducting discussions with Libya over this possibility.

The unlocking of these EU funds is scheduled to be approved during the next Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting at the beginning of October.