Malta proposes European travel document

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo yesterday proposed the introduction by the EU of a European travel document to be accepted by third countries, particularly those adhering to the Cotonou Agreement, when repatriating illegal immigrants.

Speaking during a ministerial meeting on illegal migration hosted in Madrid by the Spanish government, Dr Frendo said illegal immigrants were trained to throw away all documentation they had to make it more difficult for the receiving state to carry out identification that could lead to repatriation.

The collaboration of countries of origin was not always forthcoming and it was imperative that this issue was addressed by the European Union as a whole, Dr Frendo said.