Frattini bemoans lack of solidarity

European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini yesterday criticised EU countries for not doing enough to help fellow member states fight illegal immigration.

Speaking at the European Parliament, Mr Frattini accused member states of not making any concrete contribution to help Malta, Italy and Spain. He stressed the need for the EU border control agency's budget to be boosted.

"Solidarity means concretely helping member states under pressure. We need funds, we need equipment, and we need boats, helicopters and airplanes. Member states have duties towards each other. Countries such as Malta, the small islands in the Canaries or Lampedusa cannot face the full force of the large waves of immigration alone."

Mr Frattini's outburst followed similar comments by the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, in a letter he sent to EU leaders last week.

The Commission, through Frontex, is preparing to launch a sea and air patrol in the Mediterranean to prevent illegal immigrants leaving from North Africa.

A similar mission was started off the Spanish Canary islands during the summer, however, the contribution by member states in terms of equipment and personnel was deemed inadequate by the Commission.

"The €272 million budget being proposed for Frontex is insufficient to deal with organising joint patrol operations in the Mediterranean," Mr Frattini told MEPs.

He reiterated that the involvement of Tripoli is still crucial if the immigration problem, particularly affecting Malta and Italy, is to be solved.

He hoped the next immigration conference between the EU and Africa will be held in Tripoli next month.

Maltese MEPs Simon Busuttil, David Casa and Louis Grech took part in the debate and all called on the EU to step up its help towards Malta.

Dr Busuttil focused on the relations between the EU and Libya saying it was essential to help Libya control its desert borders.

"First we were told that Libya was willing to participate in the Mediterranean patrols but then it denied this. Next we heard that Italy and Libya had landed a bilateral agreement, also subsequently denied. We would like a clarification of exactly where we stand with Libya," Dr Busuttil said.

Mr Grech told Mr Frattini that enough words had been said and promises made but very little action followed.

"An example is the promise of patrols in the Mediterranean in the beginning of summer. Summer has now passed and we have seen no patrols while illegal immigrants are still coming."

Mr Grech called for the setting up of an emergency plan in which the European Parliament should play a prominent role.

He proposed the setting up of an observatory or agency in the Mediterranean, possibly in Malta, to coordinate work on the control of illegal immigration in the region.

Mr Casa said: "We must introduce a mechanism whereby the responsibilities are shared among all member states".

"Without real action, this Europe we have built will be reduced to a Europe of papers, resolutions, promises and dreams", he added, referring to the amount of initiatives on immigration that have so far not yielded any concrete results.