'Name and shame states unwilling to help'

The biggest group in the European Parliament is proposing a name and shame policy in a bid to expose those countries that are unwilling to help with the problem of illegal immigration.

"I'm in favour of pointing fingers at those that don't want to help, even if not all the 27 EU states are affected by the problem," EPP-ED chairman Joseph Daul told reporters at the SAS Radisson.

He was addressing a news conference at the end of the EPP-ED Group's Study Days in Malta, which enabled parliamentarians to witness first hand the problems the island was facing with African migration.

MEP Simon Busuttil, who chaired the conference, made it clear from the outset yesterday that the Maltese people were expecting a clear message from the EPP group to show its solidarity through action.

The three-day visit seemed to have left the desired message, as Mr Daul told journalists that MEPs were now fully exposed to the tragic conditions of thousands of illegal migrants arriving on Malta's shores.

"We have heard your message loud and clear. We have seen the distress and extreme difficulty in which these migrants live, but we have also fully understood the concerns of the Maltese people. This situation calls for solidarity and action," Mr Daul said.

He said his group will remind the EU Portuguese presidency of its commitments to develop the bloc's migration policy further.

However, the problems of misery and poverty cannot be solved with migration policies alone.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said he had no objection in singling out those countries that came out with "unjustified excuses" to steer away from providing help.

Likewise, Malta had no problem in heaping praise on the other member states when they sanctioned a healthy budget for the island. Dr Gonzi said he is holding the Portuguese presidency to its word in drawing up a common European policy on migration by the end of the year.

During the conference, MEP Hubert Pirker said Europe could not afford to make promises if it was failing to deliver the goods. If countries are unwilling to help build the EU's border agency Frontex, then it should be abolished.

Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini accused EU countries like his native Italy of failing to fulfil their pledge to chip in to the EU border patrols.

On Thursday, the commissioner observed a demonstration by Frontex, which is still operating with very limited resources, off the coats of Malta.

Mr Frattini said that saving lives at sea should not be the duty of one member state: "We can't leave the burden of the EU on Malta and the Canary Islands and we can't expect Morocco or Malta to be the policemen of the Mediterranean," he said, pointing out the importance of creating a European repatriation strategy.

Referring to Malta's burden-sharing proposal, Mr Frattini assured other EU states that the proposal is not intended to permanently consign huge numbers to other member states. However, such an issue is solved politically and not through technicalities and legislation.

If the EU is going to be credible it should be firm with returning illegal immigrants to their country of origin and provide protection to those who deserve it.

While Europe needs to be tough with human traffickers, Mr Frattini emphasised the need to stop the exploitation of migrant workers in member states.

He underlined the mistake of excluding Libya from the process and told those present that the north African country should be assisted at home by helping it defend its southern borders.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg reminded participants that conservatively about 600 people die every year in the Mediterranean trying to make the crossing to Europe. It was ironic, he said, that, while most of Europe rightly rushed to intervene whenever there were some devastating fires, several countries remain reluctant to help with the human drama developing in the Mediterranean.

The Libyan Ambassador to Malta, Saad Elshlamani, intervened to say that his country was doing all it can to stop the phenomenon of illegal immigration.

Despite the bad publicity, Libya is trying to help the countries in conflict, and the EU should likewise help to bring stability and peace in Africa, he charged.