EU allocates €8m for sea patrols

The European Union is stepping up efforts to tackle illegal immigration on its southern borders, including Malta, Italy and Spain, and is planning six joint operations and four study projects this year with Frontex, allocating €8 for the operations.

Sources close to Frontex, the EU border control agency, told The Times yesterday that Malta will be one of the beneficiary member states as surveillance of the strait between Sicily, Malta and Libya will be strengthened.

"We know, and our studies also show, that many of the illegal immigrants ending up all over the EU are coming through the central Mediterranean route crossing over from Libya to Malta and Italy. We intend to patrol closely this area in order to prevent human trafficking as much as possible," the sources said.

Asked when the EU will launch its sea patrol operation off the coasts of Malta this summer, the sources would not reveal any details but said that the Maltese operation this year will be "longer and (start) earlier".

"We are not in a position yet to state when the operation will start and how long it will last. This information is confidential as it can be used against us to help traffickers organise different and alternative routes. However, we can definitely confirm that Malta will be much better guarded this year".

The first EU operation on the central Mediterranean route, Nautilus, was held last October with the participation of the armed forces of Malta, Italy, Germany, France and Finland. During the 15-day operation no illegal immigrants landed on Maltese shores.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, who was attending the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg yesterday, met the director of Frontex, Ilkka Laitinen, when the progress being made on the Mediterranean patrols was discussed.

Dr Borg said progress is being registered and Malta is hopeful about getting the financial and technical help needed to combat illegal immigration this summer.

"We are very satisfied with the progress being made both by the EU and, particularly, by Frontex on this issue. Due to our continuous pressure, including that of other member states that are facing the same problem, illegal immigration has become a priority for the EU. This makes us more confident that we will not be alone when things get tough," Dr Borg said.

EU Justice Ministers yesterday agreed to a new regulation establishing a mechanism for the creation of rapid intervention border teams. These will be composed of experts from member states and will be made available by Frontex at short notice to any member state whose borders are under a particular threat and strain by illegal immigration. The targeted initial personnel strength will be of about 450 officers.

The regulation now needs only the approval of the European Parliament, expected next week, before becoming effective. The EU is aiming to have the rapid intervention border teams ready by summer.