Friday, 19th December 2008
Immigration
EU grants €112 million to Malta
The EU yesterday granted Malta €112 million from the budget for the next five years to be in a better position to face the immigration problem. The money is over and above the €855 million allocated to Malta under the present seven-year EU budget and are considered to be extra funds specifically dedicated to migration.
The allocation is one of the biggest ever made by EU under its External Borders Fund; only Italy and Greece received bigger grants.
According to government plans approved by the European Commission, most of the funds will be dedicated to the purchase of four brand new patrol boats for the army's maritime squadron and new operating equipment, including boats for the police and other border authorities.
Malta will also be using part of the funds to modernise the communications infrastructure supporting maritime border control activities, surveillance equipment and the upgrade of security features in the visa section of the island's overseas missions.
"This is tangible proof that our voice is being heard," an upbeat Justice Minister, Carm Mifsud Bonnici said shortly after the announcement was made in Brussels.
"The EU has decided to put its money where the biggest problems are and we are very satisfied that our efforts have been rewarded. This is a massive allocation which we will use intelligently to make our country much better equipped to fight illegal immigration," he said.
Asked whether the money could be interpreted as a move by the Commission to stop Malta's political pressure over the issue, Dr Mifsud Bonnici replied that "if that is the case, it's not going to work!"
"We would like to consider this decision by the Commission as true solidarity on the EU's part and Malta is very appreciative of the EU's efforts," he said.
EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot said the approval of the funds are an important step forward for the island, being one of the member states facing considerable challenges on the southern borders of the EU.
"Through the submissions under this programme, Malta has shown its commitment to strengthen its capacity for effective border control, thus contributing to the European common integrated border management system."
The European External Borders Fund is one of four financial instruments of the EU aimed at helping member states manage better their borders.
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Comments
The EU is saying ' we give you the money but you have to burden your country with illegal immigrants'
The Government is sending to the eu €140,000 DAILY which the eu unilaterally has increased to €153,000 daily as from 1 January 2009.
This is apart from all customs duties and levies for anything we buy from non-eu countries, part of VAT etc...
What we need is help to REPATRIATE ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS until the last one leave Malta for ever.
Not one single ILLEGAL immigrant must be allowed to stay in Malta. If the eu is not happy they can take them all to Brussels.
I'm not happy that the EU is giving us more funds so that we can act as a stronger breakwater to stop the waves of illegal immigrants heading towards mainland Europe. I don't want my country to become a big detention center of the Mediterranean just like the EU admitted in the past.
"The EU has decided to put its money where the biggest problems are and we are very satisfied that our efforts have been rewarded."
The EU is giving us money so that this problem is shifted on our shoulders instead of theirs. This money will only increase our burden.
No from you,me and every other tax payer in Europe.
First by not letting illegal immigrants approach our shores by all defensive means, mainly by active patrol boats which prevent and do not help the traffickers in human beings.
Second by sending illegal immigrants back to their own country and by not being complacent - let's pick them up and hold them in a safe place until a group of them are ready to be repatriated.
Third by sending as many of them as possible to countries that need them.
We were led to believe that we would be assisted by burden sharing ie other EU countries physically taking some of the immigrants from our country... but as usual THE GOVERNMENT FAILED and is trying to stuff our mouths quiet with "aaalll this mooooneeey"
@ the Govt, Gainninu & all those who agree with you... GET REAL AND/OR TAKE OFF YOUR BLINKERS... STOP OFFENDING OUR INTELLIGENCE PLEASE!
Illegal immigration is to be fought with all our means. As our means are not enough, and as the victims of illegal immigration are also the other EU countries, it is right that they help us with some of their means too.
The patrol boats will fight illegal immigration only if they prevent it and not if they behave like Frontex has so far. Frontex has been a pull factor because it attracts boats full of illegal immigrants and helps them cross over to Malta, Lampedusa and Sicily. The patrol boats should defend Malta from a well-organised operation by countries having an ulterior motive.
Giving us money will not make things any easier, it will not make the immigrants any less illegal, it will not make Marsa or Halfar any nicer or larger and it will certainly not curb the growing resentment felt by the Maltese people!!!
"Here's some money ......................"
I do not blame you, actually I Wholeheartedly sympathize with you.
So here is another 112million euros coming Malta's way. This I am sure is not part of the money already pledged by the EU and of course all these amounts I am refering to, do not form part of the 855million euros everybody knows about. Come on Joseph, you stated that you will give the government credit when it is due; so why haven't you done so? You can act dumb but you must not stay dumb if you expect us to believe you. Admit it... joining the EU was the best thing ever (apart from 21 September 1964).