Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Frontex no solution as Libya fails to cooperate
Frontex has admitted that its patrols in the Mediterranean are not the answer to Malta's illegal immigration problem because Libya continues to resist cooperation.
Statistics seen by The Times show that, despite having been in operation for six months, the Frontex mission - the biggest that it has coordinated off Malta's shores - has not prevented the number of illegal immigrants from soaring. Last year, in the first six months, 769 illegal immigrants landed on Maltese shores. This year, the number had already reached 896 by June 30, an increase of 16 per cent.
Asked whether these statistics prove that the EU's mission is not working, a spokesman for Frontex, the EU border security agency, admitted that the operation is not Malta's solution to illegal immigration. Without mentioning Libya by name, he insisted that cooperation by countries from where the illegal immigrants leave is crucial.
"The number of people arriving in Malta will not decrease automatically thanks to this joint operation as this takes place in international waters where the international law of the sea applies," the spokesman explained. He made it clear that Frontex cannot in any way stop a boat carrying illegal immigrants in international waters and does not have the mandate to do so.
"Assets deployed in the Nautilus III mission can only follow the boat carrying would-be immigrants and apprehend them when they enter the territory of one of the EU member states."
Asked whether this effectively means that Malta is getting more immigrants as a result of increased patrols in international waters, the spokesman answered that the operations are still a deterrent to criminal organisations.
Sources close to Frontex admitted that "if Libya keeps ignoring calls from the EU, its member states and Frontex to cooperate in the patrolling of its sea borders, the current surveillance patrols in the Mediterranean coordinated by the EU's border agency cannot be effective."
It is an open secret that almost all the illegal immigrants arriving in Malta start their voyage from Libyan ports. Despite regular meetings held over the past four years between the EU and Libya, apart from diplomatic pressure exerted by Malta and Italy on Tripoli to start cooperating in these patrols, Libya has refused to do so. It has made it clear that Frontex patrols are not allowed to enter its territorial waters.
Italian government sources confirmed that a bilateral agreement between Italy and Libya signed last year for joint patrols between the two countries has not been implemented by Libya.
On the other hand, another Frontex mission similar to Nautilus III, held in the waters between the Spanish Canary Island and West Africa, is producing different results thanks to the cooperation of Senegal and Mauritania, the countries of origin of illegal immigrants in that part of Africa.
According to Frontex, since the start of this mission, called Hera, 2,383 illegal immigrants were turned back to Senegal and Mauritania and 79 criminals organising the trips were arrested.
The Frontex spokesman said that the main difference between Hera and Nautilus is that Senegal and Mauritania are on board.
"Thanks to an agreement signed between Spain and these two countries, on board of each member state's patrolling vessel, there is a Senegalese and Mauritanian officer who have the right to order the boat of would-be illegal immigrants to turn back," the spokesman said.
27 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Wayne Hewitt
Jul 19th 2008, 14:45
There is only ONE solution. SEND THEM BACK TO LIBYA. Libya is not a country in war, and has international obligations like we do. So what's the problem in sending them back from where they came from (Libya)??????????
Sandro Pace
Jul 12th 2008, 10:10
ATTENTION
If you do not want to be accomplices to this farce you can still do away with the vote. Besides, comedy is in the eye of the beholder, and for some if not many, we already have comedians at the helm and opposing.
protest vote.
M. Mercieca
Jul 11th 2008, 23:44
Hands off Malta please
There are actually a lot more to it than just irregular immigration. Many post overplays that issue
Its no longer a matter of a civilized complain by a genuine Maltese citizen. The topic of irregular immigrants has bestowed xenophobic and racist peoples a good cloak to come into sight patriots like! All this in my opinion doesn’t reflect good on Malta’s image internationally and we get slammed year after year by organizations like AI.
Europe values are clear. No place for xenophobic and racist peoples
All anti-Immigrants parties will eventually be flushed away, similar to what happened in Malta.
Joseph Cauchi
Jul 11th 2008, 23:04
Why are the people concerned in this matter so silent?
Please Dr. Simon Busuttil, say something. As we all know that you are the most competent person in this matter and you are our "porta-voce" in Brussels, we expect some reactions from you and please kindly put our minds at rest !!!.
A. Muscat
Jul 11th 2008, 22:10
ATTENTION
To all who mentioned ANR, AN or Mr. Norman Lowell. Please note that:
When we vote for general election, we are programmed into two colors blue and red. Unless our programmed political approach is decoded every thing would remain the same.
Yes, we have some floaters and also many pressure groups such as (hunters, gays, lesbians, pro-drugs, feces-eater, and urine-addicts), but all these, remain pressure groups. The more days goes by, we become more ‘open minded’ and ‘modern’, consequently voters expectations may vary and increase. No party would fulfill all people’s anxiety.
Mr. Lowell, can win over any of our local good comedians, for a short while though. Those types of peoples can also impress an audience of laymen with some technical words they use haphazardly. Sincerely, I doubt if they know the meaning of the big words they use. I am sure, if Mr. Lowell, is elected as our MEP, he will be shipped back to Malta in less than six months,
As far as ANR and AN are concerned, peoples should understand that the way they do politics in Brussels requires professional politicians, not kids in diapers!
Sandro Pace
Jul 11th 2008, 21:14
@those like me unimpressed by the photos.
Our southern neighbour has declared a demographical destabilisation war on us and Europe, and in times of 'war', people would not think much in 'pity' terms. No matter what photos are brought. Concern, powerlesness and lack of being in control is overwhelming any other thing, and this desensitisation is going to grow with the escalation of the problem.
Now one can doubt this piece of human nature.
The psychological effect of such photos is being short lived at best, to even parental blame for those putting their children at risk.
Who can blame us?
Joanne Micallef
Jul 11th 2008, 19:55
Let us not forget that we are the ones that pay all the ministers their wages and other expenses. Where are all of them in this time of need, or dont they think that so many landings in such a short period of time is not alarming.
Oh and we're still in the begining of July, we have quite a long way to go yet.
Clemens Hasengschwandtner
Jul 11th 2008, 19:04
I wonder if there is a way to put pressure on the EU. Fact is that most of these refugees don't want to come to Malta in the first place. Wouldn't it possible to give them some kind of document which allows them to move on to the country they really want to go to. I know it is a daring thought but how about creating something like a temporary citizenship. The refugees get some kind of Maltese document which allows them to move to another European country but which limits their rights in Malta itself and which could be restricted to a year or two. The refugees would just move on to the country they wanted to go in the first place. The Swiss have a similar program for people working in the tourism industry - the worker is registered in Switzerland but he has no rights whatsoever there and is not even allowed to work in Switzerland itself. Let's find a way to share our problems with the rest of Europe and make this whole issue an European problem.
john fenech
Jul 11th 2008, 16:09
So know it is official Frontex is as the name implies a ‘Front for X’. It will be expected that our MEPs and the Government will insist that the remaining Frontex’s budget plus the total amount of next year will be given to Malta to help towards the up keeping of the illegal immigrants.
Joe Tabone-Adami
Jul 11th 2008, 15:36
So, where do we go from here? Obviously those who stand to gain from the fiasco are the criminals organizations who jam-pack their rickety boats with poor (or, perhaps, not so poor) souls and provide them with enough fuel to take them half-way between the North African shores and Malta or Lampedusa. Some of these do not even reach that far. There are millions of hopefuls in Africa - and business for criminal 'freedom-boatmen' will continue to thrive, nay will increase. It is these organizations which have to be attacked, to start with!
t. borg
Jul 11th 2008, 15:05
I totally agree with j. darmanin "EU is a group of chickens scared" why they do not stop Gaddafi seeing many people die in the sea because of him not stopping them or at least accepting them back so others won’t try . Malta should go out from Dublinet sending information to eu giving fingerprints of those immigrants entering Malta so if they succeeded in reaching their destination, and caught, they are sent back to Malta. Malta is another scared chicken.
B Agius
Jul 11th 2008, 14:48
A few years ago Australia had a similar problem.The Government here spoke and paid the Indonesians to institute a program to ensure boat people are not skinned alive by Indonesian people smugglers. The Australian Federal Police became involved. This initiative was complimented by sending anyone arriving in Australia illegally to Nauru - again Australia paid for this and this was not a very popular move and the Government was heavily criticised. But guess what: boat people stopped coming and we haven't heard of any for a while.
Joe Gatt
Jul 11th 2008, 14:12
It's typical of the brainwashing campaign carried out by our liberal infested media, that of the two stories on the invasion from Africa carried in this online edition of 'The Times', one has a picture of a weeping child and the other a picture of a baby.
Jahasra! Msieken! Ejja ndahhlu ghaxar telef ohra!
Let's see whether the censor -- oops sorry, I meant moderator -- lets this comment through, or as so often happens, he 'disappears' it.
Joseph Tabone
Jul 11th 2008, 13:28
I truly sympathise with these "illegal immigrants" assuming that they are fleeing a terrible life and oppression in their homeland. Putting Christian values and humanitarian acts aside, they cannot be allowed to come to Malta in such numbers any more, not because of colour or creed, but they are an unwarranted burden on our society in all aspects. We are already feeling the problems of their invasion and this is just the beginning. We are part of the EU and our politicians should not rest until we get the expected support and a solution to this problem. Why doesn't EU look at the root cause of this exodus and perhaps support these people by other means, so that they may build a future in their homeland? They are ready to risk their lives to flee their country, so why aren't they prepared to give their life for a better future in their homeland?
Sandru Vella Bray
Jul 11th 2008, 13:09
The EU an economic giant but a military dwarf. It is administered by a bunch of dark grey suited men (and women), with white shirts and wide colourful ties and shiny chufflings who have no courage to stand up and be counted and take concrete military action to stop this saga! Can we see some action from our E.U. and the blue flag with shiny stars please! Frontex is the joke of the decade. It is an agency created in Poland creating jobs for the boys. Without any regional knowledge, Frontex is trying to show its importance of existance by putting some people in a room in Luqa in front of a PC inputting the number of cases we are getting every day. Can somebody do something about it? This is the time I wish I was American!
john fenech
Jul 11th 2008, 12:48
At last there it is from the horse’s mouth, Frontex remit does not help Malta in any way, in fact it is an added burden! Since Malta is closer to the Libyan coast then Italy, the illegal immigrants in international water will be escorted to our shores.
Dear MEP & local authorities don’t you think that the budget allocated to Frontex (8M Euro) should be put to better use. Like for instance the upkeep of the illegal immigrants. Because for all the fuss and lip service the influx of illegal immigrant will not end!
Wayne Hewitt
Jul 11th 2008, 12:47
If Libya doesn't, why should we????????????????
Joseph Cauchi
Jul 11th 2008, 12:26
@J. Darmanin, I agree with you 100%.
EU should show its teeth and tell the Libyan leader Gaddafi to co-operate. Is this Gaddafi's way to pay us (Maltese) back? Long is the time when we were called blood-brothers(!)- but this was only an excuse to exploit our position and fool our government of the time. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Paul Bonnici
Jul 11th 2008, 12:21
Libya will NEVER, I repeat NEVER cooperate with Europe on illegal immigration and human trafficking. Illegal immigrants should be charged with illegal entry into Maltese sovereign territory and imprisoned. Genuine asylum seekers, should firstly apply at the Maltese Embassy in Libya or Tunisia if they are genuine asylum seekers, if they fail to do this prior to coming to Malta, they should be considered as illegal immigrants. This will stop illegal immigration in its tracks.
v.pulis
Jul 11th 2008, 12:15
So what next? Why did the frontex spokesman refuse to mention LIBYA(there, I mentioned it) by name?when is someone going to have enough guts to stand up to gaddafi and tell him to his face that he is responsible for every single person that is lost during these trips which are originating from his country? is he above the law? Can't we escort the boats back to just outside his territorial waters and 'Suggest' they go back? I bet then the Libyan navy would start patrolling to prevent any Illegal migrants to enter their territory! wouldn't that be a farce?! one doesn't have to be a genius to realise that unless someone with guts stands up to gaddafi things will not improve for us. they will only get worse.
Sandro Pace
Jul 11th 2008, 11:45
There are no humanitarian solutions, but that does not mean this shall continue forever. The only legality that is broken is on Malta.
It will have to come from someone with enough guts to say enough is enough and stand to everybody, including the international community.
John Meilak
Jul 11th 2008, 11:24
Frontex is a hoax. A good solution would be of handling the immigrants on a cruiser offshore, feeding them, treating them and so on. Their boats are repaired, given a good motor engine filled to the top with fuel and given supplies to last for a week. Once they're fed, clean and healthy they will be transported back to Libyan waters (across the border), loaded onto the repaired boats and given directions to Libya. This would satisfy the bible thumping Christians (helping the poor guys) and also the frightened citizen (handling them offshore).
Should Colonel Gaddafi complain, we should tell him : "When they crossed the border from Chad or Algeria you did not complain. So why should you complain now? Its the same thing but from a different side of your border."
J. Darmanin
Jul 11th 2008, 11:22
If this was the US of A... Libya would co-operate. Why ? Because the Americans do not dance the twist. They action against the impertineance of Libya. The EU is a group of chickens scared to act. Frontx should be protected by war ships to enter libyan territorial waters and off load migrants into libya. (when found they they left from there or are found in their SAR).
It is time the EU showed muscle with the Gadaffi. Or else go cry to Bush for help - how we did during the yugoslav war because we didn\t have the b^*#s to deal with it. What a joke this EU !
Paul Barrett
Jul 11th 2008, 10:51
Welcome to Malta. Please move to the back of the bus, standing room only.
Can anyone come up with a legal, Christian and humanitarian solution to this problem - it seems impossible.
Joe Scerri
Jul 11th 2008, 10:28
There is only one solution. Turn back every boat irrespective if its inside or outside Maltese territorial waters. Repatriate those already here or send them back to Libya. This cannot go on. MLPNAD WAKE UP.
Sandro Pace
Jul 11th 2008, 10:23
Malta should immediately retire from Frontex.
L Galea
Jul 11th 2008, 10:06
Affrontex does not turn the ILLEGAL immigrants boats back.
It excorts them safely to Malta.
With EU friends like these, who needs enemies?