Patrols halt 700 migrants

The EU patrols in the Mediterranean turned back more than 700 would-be illegal immigrants during its operations last July and saved many lives.

European Commission vice-president Franco Frattini yesterday said the Commission was very satisfied with the results of the patrols, run by the EU border agency Frontex.

Addressing a press conference in Brussels, he said the Nautilus II mission currently being run off the coast of Malta was yielding remarkable results.

"During the first phase (July) of Nautilus II, more than 700 illegal immigrants were intercepted and turned back towards their point of departure," he said.

"Data also show that we have managed to save a thousand lives through our missions in both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic while more than 20 human-trafficking criminals were arrested."

Frontex is currently operating two anti-immigration sea missions, Nautilus II off Malta, and Hera III off Spain.

According to Commissioner Frattini, the Hera III mission in the Atlantic intercepted and turned back 1,500 illegal immigrants trying to reach the EU's southern borders.

"This means that despite problems of lack of resources these missions are effective."

Nautilus II, the second anti-immigration patrol mission coordinated by Frontex in the Sicily-Malta-Libya strait, was this year divided into two phases. The first phase took place in July and patrols resumed a few days ago with more resources through a bigger Italian presence. Malta, through its armed forces, is deploying its military assets. Other EU states are also making a contribution.

Commissioner Frattini said the EU should now be better prepared to combat the phenomenon of illegal immigration.

"We have now finalised our Rapid Border Intervention Teams with 500 experts from all the EU member states ready to intervene at the call of a member state in difficulty. The first concrete operation of this team will be conducted in Portugal in a few days time," he announced.

According to a new regulation establishing the Rapid Border Intervention Teams, the EU will be ready to deploy within days teams of experts to help a member state to deal with sudden influxes of illegal immigrants.

The teams will only be deployed on the request of member states.