Quadro Group report stresses solidarity and burden sharing
The home affairs ministers of Malta, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy meet in Rome today in their efforts to keep the issue of illegal migration and asylum high on the EU's agenda.
This is the second meeting of the Quadro Group, formed by the four EU member states. The initiative aims to ensure that the momentum gained during the past French EU Presidency, in addressing the major southern European illegal migration issue, is kept up during the Czech and upcoming Swedish EU presidencies.
However, immigration already seems to be slipping off the Czech Presidency's agenda and Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Vondra has been quoted as saying that while the Mediterranean was important they had far more serious problems to solve.
The gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia and the war in Gaza were sidelining illegal immigration.
The Quadro's first meeting was held last November and, since then, technocrats from the four states met to draft a paper on the issue, which will be presented to fellow EU ministers on Thursday and Friday at the first informal meeting of the year of EU justice and home affairs ministers.
Today's meeting, being attended by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, is hosted by Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni who has been insisting on the immediate repatriation of any illegal immigrants arriving in Italy. The decision does not seem to have been put into practice yet and it was still unknown how the Italian government planned to bypass its international obligations.
Mr Maroni visited the Italian island of Lampedusa last Friday and said Italy wanted to give a clear signal that anyone who arrived (in Italy) will be sent home.
In reaction to the Italian instant repatriation decision, the Maltese Foreign Affairs Ministry had said it will "wait and see" how the decision will be implemented. It also said that, in the case of Egyptian nationals, Italy would not be re-inventing the wheel because even Malta immediately repatriated any Egyptians who arrived illegally.
During today's meeting, the ministers are expected to approve a document highlighting other issues of common interest, convinced that security in the Mediterranean region was directly linked to the security of the EU as a whole.
Stating that the influx of illegal immigrants was causing considerable strain on the four countries, the document calls on the EU to "take urgent action" with a view to put into practice the principle of solidarity and fair burden-sharing.
The quartet will call on the EU to step up readmission negotiations with third countries. Moreover, the Quadro Group will note that the Mediterranean was becoming a transit area for drug and other illicit trafficking from Africa and Eastern regions. It will also acknowledge that it was "highly likely" that illicit proceeds from such activities might be financing terrorism.
The European Pact on Immigration and Asylum gave new impetus to the definition of common immigration and asylum policy.
"Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta call for intensifying the EU's efforts with a view to conclude the ongoing negotiations with third countries, especially with Morocco, Turkey and Algeria, and open negotiations with key countries of origin and transit," the document being discussed today says.
"Unless success is registered in this area, the EU's efforts in the field of legal migration will inevitably be compromised. The ministers consider that the Commission should be given the necessary mandates and additional resources to negotiate and conclude such agreements."
The home affairs ministers will discuss cooperation to implement practical measures to ensure the return of illegal immigrants, particularly in relation to the procurement of travel documents and the organisation of joint flights.
The Quadro Group will also discuss the strengthening of Frontex, the EU's border control agency, by providing it with the necessary financial resources and have member states provide it with the operational resources.
The present illegal immigration scenario in the Mediterranean has often required the four countries to rescue people at sea even when this fell outside their legal areas of responsibility.
While stating that they were willing to continue to overstep their responsibilities when necessary to save lives at sea, the four countries say they feel that other member states should also shoulder part of this burden by assuming long-term responsibility for some of the people rescued.
The Quadro Group will also call on the Council and the Commission to set up the European Asylum Support Office at the earliest adding that their countries should be assisted through resources and additional forms of support to address the consequences of the over-burdened national asylum systems.
They will call on the EU to strengthen cooperation with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to ensure better protection for people outside EU territory who request protection.
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Michelle Dali
Jan 13th 2009, 18:19
'The Quadro Group will also discuss the strengthening of Frontex, the EU's border control agency' This is the worrying part. Frontex is the free taxi service human traffickers rely on to get the illegal immigrants across to Europe. Without Frontex I doubt so many people would be willing to pay these criminals to risk their lives in the crossing. It is inadvertently encouraging illegal immigration instead of discouraging it.
These people should be helped in their own countries to work hard to build a better life for themselves and their children, instead of leaving to become a burden on others. Are they finding the 'better life' the human traffickers promise? I don't think so. Surely living in Libya would be better than being held in detention for months, then wandering the streets of their host country with no job and no prospects.
France has repatriated 30,000 illegal immigrants in 2008, Italy too is taking firm action. Why can't Malta's government show some guts in tackling this problem, especially since this small nation is the worst affected. The present massive influx of illegal aliens from Libya is unsustainable. Silence on the part of our government is not an option.
Denis Catania
Jan 13th 2009, 17:30
Become a voting block. Vote no to everything the EU tries to put foward. Untill MANDATORY burden sharing is implemented. It's not hard.
a.cassar
Jan 13th 2009, 16:45
"Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta call for intensifying the EU's efforts with a view to conclude the ongoing negotiations with third countries, especially with Morocco, Turkey and Algeria, and open negotiations with key countries of origin and transit," And where in heaven's name is LIBYA??? if there is a country being used for transit it's LIBYA.
"Unless success is registered in this area, the EU's efforts in the field of legal migration will inevitably be compromised."
What i have been saying all along. Unless LIBYA is forced to comply eith international obligations nothing will be solved. But we all know that Libya will never comply. It is gaddafi's plan to inundate europe with illegals. you can hear him on youtube outlining his plan for an islamic europe.and europe sits complacent dying a natural death.
Joseph Calleja
Jan 13th 2009, 16:09
@ D Borg
The situation is already out of control, it's been for a while. I think the Maltese government and a lot of Maltese People are still in denial and when they wake up it will be a bit too late. I'm sure that by the end of 2009 the illegal emigration problems will double and then what? I think the Quadro Group should be meeting in Brussells and not in Rome, that's where the big brains are and I don't think that there is an illegal emigration problem there.
Alexander Morana
Jan 13th 2009, 15:13
Why is France not included in the Group? France is a Mediterranean Country as well. France established the Med Forum and political dialogue with the countries mentioned in the agenda of this group which are the transit point of Africans to Europe. Besides these were former colonies of France?
France has more clout both in Brussels and in North Africa. Also France favours burden sharing, I think?
Joanne Micallef
Jan 13th 2009, 13:11
They have been 'discussing' the same issue for ages now, how many more years of discussion will we have to wait for before they finally take action?????
Alex Sptieri
Jan 13th 2009, 10:41
Exactly John, the EU is the problem not the solution especially on the Illegal Immigration issue. The Government has a golden opportunity, of having a politician like Roberto Maroni as the Italian Interior Minister as he's one of the few real politicians left in Europe. However, the Maltese government instead of collaborating with him and act together on this regard, he's opting for the 'wait and see' approach. how pathetic is this?!
People need to realise once and for all, that the Maltese government has no real political will to solve the problem. From the eyes a few politicians this isn't even a problem at all. They will never take any tough measures on immigrants as Roberto Maroni has done since he's in office. Our politicians are so of low standard and without any fibre, that they would be affraid by any critisism of the church, ngos and the media.
A Mallia
Jan 13th 2009, 10:17
John Portelli - A "nation" whose heart is wrotten to the core can never "be improved".
Kenneth Galea
Jan 13th 2009, 10:12
@D Borg
How very true it is talk talk talk and NO action. The only action taken is robbing Peter to pay Paul! The majority of these people are economic migrants but still they cost a fortune for their upkeep. We lost faith in both PN and PL on this issue. A vote in the MEP elections is indeed a vote in favour of this illegal influx!! This is both sides that is the PN and the PL.
d. borg
Jan 13th 2009, 09:56
Meetings, conferences, bla, bla, bla and nothing really ever happens. Meantime these immigrants are always coming, now even in winter. When is concrete action being taken, when we are flooded with them? When the situation becomes out of control? What a frightening scenario!!! Maltese people wake up!!
John Portelli
Jan 13th 2009, 09:48
So this is what we jion the great EU.I thought they'd fix our roads,improve our nation etc. It's better on our own.
Please choose the reason of your report below: