Lukewarm response to Malta's bid

The proposal by Malta for member states to share the burden when illegal immigrants are saved in international and third country search and rescue waters received a lukewarm response by EU Justice Ministers yesterday.

While acknowledging that Malta could not be faulted over the recent incidents and that the island was mistreated by the international press, the German Presidency decided to refer the Maltese proposal to EU ambassadors who will be meeting in Brussels in the coming weeks.

Intervening during a debate at a Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on the latest events in the Mediterranean, which debate was requested by Malta, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg delivered a strong message to his colleagues.

"Let me make it clear to everyone. Malta will not allow itself to be anointed as the only sentinel of the EU's southern borders."

Speaking to the international press following the meeting, Dr Borg said Malta was determined that, until a burden sharing agreement on the proportional distribution of asylum seekers or illegal immigrants is reached between EU member states, the island will not accept to take upon itself the responsibility of taking to its territory all the illegal immigrants saved in the Mediterranean.

"We made our point clear and the EU is understanding this. Now we will see whether the other member states are prepared to act and not only speak about solidarity."

Asked whether he was disappointed by the EU's response, Dr Borg was diplomatic: "Let me say that I am not ecstatic... However, it is still positive that the debate has started".

During the meeting, Dr Borg proposed an agreement among EU member states whereby illegal immigrants saved at sea by EU-registered vessels in the search and rescue region of a non-EU state that refuses to shoulder its responsibilities would be shared by EU member states on a strictly proportional basis and according to a pre-accepted system.

He also proposed that the UNHCR be approached by the Commission so that the number of immigrants so received would be deducted from the immigrants/refugees quota a receiving EU country might have agreed with the UNHCR.

Defending Malta's track record in saving lives over the past year - 7,000 people since 2002 - Dr Borg said Malta believes that, if what it proposed is adopted, the other EU member states would be demonstrating that solidarity is indeed present.

"This is the only way forward," he told the press. "Someone must take responsibility for accepting illegal immigrants saved in Libya's or international waters. It is totally unreasonable and unfair to expect Malta to take up this burden alone. We are not ready to do this alone."

Diplomatic sources who followed the closed-doors meeting said that, while agreeing in principle that Malta needs to be helped, the other member states stopped short of declaring concrete support to the proposal.

"Only Spain made it clear that it supports Malta. Others shied away or remained silent," the sources said, adding that some argued that the proposed agreement would act as a pull factor, attracting more illegal immigrants to the EU.

The sources said that both Commissioner Franco Frattini and Italy were arguing that this type of deal would be tantamount to a guarantee that all illegal immigrants sending a distress call will end up having assured access to the EU.

During the meeting, Dr Borg said clearly he disagreed with Mr Frattini, the sources said.

Although Malta's proposal was not well received by the other member states, both the German Presidency and the Commission said they wanted to help the island.

In a press conference following the council meeting, German Home Affairs Minister Wolfgang Schauble, on behalf of the Presidency, said ministers agreed that they start exploring ways on how burden sharing can be attained.

He had harsh words for the international media blaming Malta for the recent incidents involving illegal immigrants finding themselves in difficulty in the Mediterranean.

"We strongly regret the fact that, in some media reports, matters have been seriously misrepresented blaming Malta for something for which it was not responsible.

"We know that Malta is responsible for a search and rescue area that is disproportionate to its size. Solutions must be found in line with international law but we are not leaving Malta high and dry," the German minister said.

Mr Frattini said that while the EU will be exploring ways and means how to have more burden sharing, the operations by Frontex in the Mediterranean, starting on June 25, will be stronger and longer.

He told The Times: "I have managed to find another €7 million to have a better patrol mission. Nautilus will continue until October and will also have the participation of Italy. I hope this will help Malta for the time being".

Italian Home Affairs Minister Giuliano Amato said on Tuesday Italy would like Libya to participate in order for it to join operation Nautilus. While confirming this, Mr Frattini told The Times he has managed to convince Mr Amato to change his stand.