Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
€5m grant from the EU for immigrant services
Brussels yesterday approved a grant of €5 million to Malta to help the island improve its structures dealing with refugees and asylum seekers.
The funds, spread over the next five years, will come out of the European Refugee Fund (ERF), one of four new EU instruments meant to be used in connection with migration.
The Times also learned that the European Commission is evaluating an additional request by Malta for "extraordinary funds" following the increase in asylum seekers landing on the island this summer.
"Malta has made a formal request for an additional €0.5 million in order to be able to refurbish and expand part of the detention centre in Lyster Barracks due to the surge in asylum seekers experienced in the past months," a Commission spokesman said.
The Commission is analysing the request and should be making a decision soon.
The €5 million grant approved by the Commission will be dedicated to a number of projects in line with a plan submitted by the government. These include the provision of essential services for the management of reception centres and food supplies and medical support for persons residing in the centres. The plan also envisages the strengthening of the infrastructure and of integration services for asylum seekers resident at the Marsa open centre.
EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot said that the granting of the funds to Malta constitutes the expression of the EU's financial solidarity towards a member state faced with significant challenges related to migration.
Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici welcomed the Commission's decision and said this shows that the EU is recognising the need for more solidarity towards member states over-burdened with migration problems, such as Malta.
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P.Schembri
Nov 8th 2008, 10:57
WOW!!!!! 5 million euros. You won't go far with that sum. About LM2 million for 5 years, equivalent to Lm400,000 per year. We're gonna be rich with the EU. Now the illegal immigrants can come here and live happily ever after, except the Maltese. What does the EU think of us, stupid people? First the Burden Sharing Pact and now this!!! An insult to the Maltese nation.
louise vella
Nov 8th 2008, 10:21
€5 million for 5 years = €1 million a year - nothing compared to what illegal immigrants are costing Malta and the Maltese taxpayer. Gonzi has been studiously and persistently covering up the total cost of illegal immigrants to the Maltese people. But it is certain that it is more than €1 million a year.
Persons working in banks will tell you that illegal immigrants are all the time coming to transfer money to African countries. The government must know, or can find out, how much money is leaving the country in that way. Will the EU reimburse Malta?
What Barrot is reported to have said about solidarity is rather bad news. It means the EU is intent on giving us some money to make us shut up but not seriously considering burden-sharing or repatriation of illegal immigrants or even beefing up Frontex to turn it into a serious border-control agency.