Ivan Camilleri Brussels
EU patrols on hold as states grapple over destination of rescued illegal immigrants
Germany and France disagree on patrol parameters
The start of this year's EU surveillance patrol mission against illegal immigration off the coast of Malta has been postponed at the eleventh hour, The Sunday Times has learnt.
Sources close to Frontex, the EU border control agency which co-ordinates these missions, said that the launch of the so-called Nautilus III mission was currently on hold until a final agreement was reached between participating member states on who should assume responsibility of the illegal immigrants saved at sea. It is now not clear when the mission will start.
"Everything was prepared so that the Nautilus III mission would start last week (April 22). However, this was not possible as an important agreement between the participating countries has not been reached," the sources explained.
Although the nature of the last-minute disagreement is unclear, the sources said it mainly con- cern the 'rules of engagement' of participating member states.
"Malta, which is one of the main players in this mission, is insisting that there are clear rules on who is to take final responsibility for the illegal immigrants saved in non-EU waters. It seems that, until now, some member states, particularly Germany and France, have not yet agreed to share responsibility."
During last year's patrol mission surveying the sea strait between Sicily, Malta and Libya, a specific code was agreed among those taking part.
Under this agreement, illegal immigrants saved in the Maltese Search and Rescue Area (SAR) were to be taken to the closest land in the area, either Malta or Lampedusa. On the other hand, those saved in third country waters or their SAR were to be taken to the member states which saved them. "It seems that France and Germany are now rethinking their position and don't want to agree to such terms. They simply want to participate and take the illegal immigrants found by their assets either to Malta or Italy," the sources said.
Contacted by The Sunday Times yesterday, a Maltese government spokesman refused to comment on the matter since issues of security were involved. He said discussions were still ongoing and the government was optimistic that the mission would begin in the coming days.
The planned Frontex mission is supposed to be the longest ever on the central Mediterranean route, lasting some 23 weeks and with a budget of more than €8 million (Lm3.43m). Last year's mission lasted only two months and was interrupted during the peak of the season in August.
Although these missions help, it seems that the EU's member states are still shying away from Malta's original proposal made last year on burden sharing.
Pressed on the issue last Wednesday by MEP Simon Busuttil during a debate at the European Parliament, acting EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot evaded the issue and only said that the Commission was working on a 'communication' on the need of a global approach to illegal immigration.
Dr Busuttil accused the other EU member states of just paying lip service to solidarity when it came to illegal immigrants.
He told Mr Barrot that the real solution must involve a discussion on burden sharing and accused the EU Council (member states) of shying away from this proposal.
"We must not be hypocrites on this issue, being appalled when an incident happens and at the same time leave the southern member states shoulder the burden," Dr Busuttil charged.
Frontex started its patrol missions off Malta in 2006 with a first three-week experimental mission. The EU agency covers 80 per cent of the expenses of these missions through its budget.
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Graham Crocker
Apr 28th 2008, 22:51
The only solution is to help Libya stop them at their borders.
Malta should make an agreement with Libya to crack down on Human Traffickers and secure its own borders.
If we help Libya, we help ourselves.
We would have neutralized an immigrant traffic post.
If they go from any other point, they end up in Gibraltar or in Greece.
Suits us to help Libya, far more than EU helping us.
Joe Farrugia
Apr 27th 2008, 22:44
Grand Simon,
first you get an inflated budget to be able to organise a sixth fleet of your own that promises not miss out a single boat with their ever sophisticated detection gear,then when we find the migrants out on open water the ships' captain don't want to touch them with a barge pole.What happens ? Escort them all to Malta.
Listen Simon,since you have already aquired some experience in the ECJ field albiet negative,why don't you get His Honour to dish it out to the French and German guys who ain't co-operating.You never know eh.We are all equal in the EU!!!
Also, readers note ,that the mentioned Maltese Search and Rescue area is NOT the 12mile ring around the islands but hundreds of nautical miles around the island.
Happy rescues Frontex
Joe Sammut
Apr 27th 2008, 22:34
The EU continue to perpetuate themselves as an eternal debating society, where the paperwork trail is even longer than the decision making processes. FRONTEX is no different! It is not only a shame, but an outright scandal that the bulk of the mainland European countries fail to appreciate or understand the migration problems this small Island nation faces as the southernmost border of the EU, having to fend off the hordes of economic-migrants wanting to leave the North African shores. The trumpeted notions and concepts of solidarity have long been binned by such "partner" nations, and the lack-of-actions speak louder than words.
Unrecognisable Marseille and Nice in France have now long lost their French identity after being inundating number of North Africans they host. And Malta will be no similar over the next years, and nobody is yet ready for the frictions and animosity multi-ethnicity brings on society.
The major European players on the coasts of the Mediterranean are always muscling in their individual agendas and ulterior motives through their representatives in FRONTEX. Little are we aware as well of the East-West migration flows coming in from former Soviet bloc nations.
It's high time we name and shame those countries which are failing to help, or else this year's FRONTEX mission, Nautilus-3 will become another farce like last year's mid-summer split operation, and right at the height of the migrants departing from Libyan shores.
Talking of Libya: what is IT doing about the state of illegality, of irregular departures from their shores? Nothing, just because criminality is in high collusion through corruption in high places of the Libyan establishment. Its gunboats chase fishermen who venture mistakenly into Libyan waters onto the high seas.
Enough rhetoric, let's see some tangible action, in the form of reduced migrant arrivals on Maltese shores.
Charles Sammut
Apr 27th 2008, 17:44
It is now very clear that what various NGOs have been saying is simply not true. Europe does not need illegal immigrants, much less wants any.
These NGOs represent nobody except their own mercenary interest in that they benefit from EU grants to churn out unfavourable reports on racism and xenophobia. They are conveniently confusing well founded concern about this phenomenon with racism and xenophobia.
Anthony AGIUS
Apr 27th 2008, 17:27
IT GOES TO SHOW , ONE LAW FOR THE BIG COUNTRIES AND THEIR POWER IN THE E.U. AND THE OTHER LAW FOR THE POORER SMALL COUNTRIES .THERE IS NO EQUALITY IN THIS SYSTEM ., SAME GOES FOR THE FISHING QUOTA FOR TUNA .. MALTA HAS TO HAVE AN OBSERVER ON THEIR BOATS YET THE BIG COUNTRIES DONT BOTHER ...SHAME ..E.U.
Bernard Borg
Apr 27th 2008, 14:04
Just proves the point that the EU is just an appalling joke when it comes to (illegal) immigration policies.