MEP threatens to block Frontex budget

Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil has threatened to block next year's budget for the European Union's Frontex agency unless EU countries honoured their pledges to supply the agency with equipment for its missions.

Dr Busuttil was participating in a lively debate on the agency's budget for next year. The debate took place in the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday evening.

Earlier this year, EU countries pledged 117 vessels, 21 fixed wing aircraft and 27 helicopters to help the agency undertake missions in immigration hot spots, such as the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. However, European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini later revealed that only 10 per cent of the pledges had been honoured. Italy, for example, had pledged as many as 32 vessels but had sent none to the Frontex Mediterranean mission dubbed Nautilus.

As a result, Frontex missions fell well below expectations and effectiveness.

The agency's deputy executive director, Gil Arias, who was present for the debate, said next year's budget for the agency would be smaller than this year's.

In a hard-hitting intervention on behalf of the EPP-ED group, the largest parliamentary grouping inside the European Parliament, Dr Busuttil said it was unbelievable that the agency was going for a smaller budget next year when it was well known that its responsibilities were growing.

"Your performance is already unsatisfactory with your current budget. And next year your tasks will be even greater. So how can you convince us that you would do better with less money," Dr Busuttil charged.

Mr Arias retorted that Frontex did not just need the money. It also needed the support of EU countries through assets and equipment to undertake missions. He complained that the agency was not in a position to provide detailed budgetary plans until it knew the number of countries that would take part in its missions and the equipment they would send.

Dr Busuttil objected saying that even if the member states were to blame, it was time for Frontex to face the problem and solve it rather than just complain about it. He expressed strong disappointment at the failure of member states to honour their pledges to supply the agency with equipment saying this was undermining the agency's work.

Dr Busuttil said that if Frontex wanted Parliament's approval for its budget for next year, it had to sort out this matter.

"So far, the European Parliament has been the most vociferous supporter of Frontex. But this support can no longer be taken for granted. Frontex needs to be more accountable to this Parliament," he said.

"If you want our approval for your budget, as a minimum, you should get member states to deliver on their promises," Dr Busuttil insisted.