Busuttil proposes solidarity mechanism for 2009 EU budget

Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil has decided to take the EU to task and test its promises of solidarity and burden sharing on illegal migration and asylum by proposing changes to the 2009 budget, including the setting up of an EU-wide refugee resettlement programme.

Backed by another three MEPs from the EPP group - Greek Margaritis Schinas, Cypriot Panayiotis Demetrio and Spaniard Salvador Garriga Polledio, whose countries are also heavily affected by illegal immigration - Dr Busuttil presented his plan to the European Parliament's Budget Committee, which will shortly be discussing and proposing its amendments to the EU's 2009 budget estimates.

Dr Busuttil is suggesting that, as from next year, the EU should launch a pilot project, to be called Intra-EU Solidarity Mechanism, aimed at facilitating the voluntary reallocation of refugees and beneficiaries of international protection from EU member states, facing severe pressure from immigration flows, to other EU members.

Through a budget allocation of €5 million for its first year of operation, Dr Busuttil explained to the Budget Committee, such mechanism would be established at EU level and will be put into operation on a test basis so that it may eventually be pursued under a Common European Asylum System.

"Member states would freely determine all aspects of the selection process on a voluntary basis and the Commission would set the framework, issue guidelines, encourage participation and facilitate management coordination," Dr Busuttil says.

Contacted by The Times, Dr Busuttil said the initiative is another step to exert more pressure on the EU to transform words into action.

"There is an increasing awareness on the plight of some EU member states such as Malta and other southern members that are facing a disproportionate burden from immigration flows. Yet, there is no EU programme that facilitates relocation or resettlement of refugees among EU member states. This pilot project, if approved, will be the first concrete step towards establishing a solidarity mechanism at EU level," he said.

Asked whether his proposal is too ambitious, Dr Busuttil said it will be an uphill struggle to persuade everyone but the proposal will definitely add more pressure on the EU Council and the 27 member states.

Although Malta has been calling for concrete solidarity measures, particularly burden sharing, to help southern members states tackle increasing influxes of immigrants, the EU reaction has always been lukewarm, particularly due to the undeclared resistance of some member states, mainly the northern ones, that are not really affected by the problem.

The only concrete measure taken so far was the setting up of EU-funded border patrol missions, which in the case of Malta have proved to be not so effective due to Libya's non-cooperation with Frontex and the member states participating in these missions.

Despite the negative popular feeling in Malta about the Frontex patrols, Dr Busuttil is proposing the allocation of an extra €12 million to the border agency's budget for next year in order to make the surveillance patrols a permanent feature.

Admitting that such patrols have not been very effective so far in Malta's case, Dr Busuttil said they are still a positive initiative.

"Moreover, the Maltese AFM obtains a reimbursement of 80 per cent of the cost of its patrols," he added.