I am carefully following the debate on the Nautilus operation that started some time ago. I can agree with some critics regarding the response to the illegal migration issue but some of them are not entirely acceptable. What is important to focus on in the situation we are today is the relation of border control and migration management in the EU.
It is difficult to agree with opinions suggesting that border control is a panacea to problems of illegal migration, either in Europe or any other place. It is a fact that the migration pressure in the central Mediterranean has been high for a long time, is still high and will remain high as long as the migration issue is not addressed at the source. Border control activities alone will not solve the problem. They must be incorporated into a fully fledged, integrated border control policy and that is the challenge. We should bear in mind what other goals border control has: awareness, preparation of return operations and crime investigation, in all of which the Nautilus operation in Malta and Italy achieved results.
The other day, ministers of justice and home affairs agreed on the content of a so-called "Immigration and Asylum Pact" to be adopted by the European Council.
The pact seeks to find the right balance between stricter migration control and the human rights by developing legal migration management, tightened controls on illegal migration and common asylum policy. In that package, Frontex's small part is to enhance border control capacities by joint operations at the specific border sections.
These capacities have consistently been developed by the strong support of the European Parliament.
Nautilus, taking place in the central Mediterranean, is a good example of enhancing border control. This joint operation with the budget of more than €8 million and the participation of a dozen member states is one of the biggest activities coordinated by Frontex this year. Maritime and aerial means from France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Malta cover surveillance needs, while experts from 11 member states help in investigation. And these are only additional assets to those deployed on a regular basis by Malta and Italy, as border control responsibility lies with member states.
Assessing the prevailing situation by looking at the number of migrants that arrived in Malta and Lampedusa is taking the easy way. The integrated border management is more than simple statistics.
It is about cooperation with third countries, carrying out surveillance activities and criminal investigation as well as returning migrants illegally staying in the EU (all included into the Nautilus operation). When one of these elements cannot be implemented, namely cooperation with Libya, the pressure on border control and return operations increases. It is difficult for an operational coordinator like Frontex to integrate Libyan authorities into a joint operation without the strong political support of other EU actors. Once we receive this support we can act accordingly.
In joint operation Hera, taking place in the territorial waters of Senegal and Mauritania, assets deployed by member states assist these two countries in border control activities.
This cooperation is possible thanks to Spain, which was able to incorporate authorisation on Frontex-coordinated activities into bilateral agreements with Senegal and Mauritania.
After one year, the number of migrants arriving in the Canary Islands dropped by almost 70 per cent.
The political field is an unfamiliar area for Frontex, both from the legal and practical point of view. Therefore, counting on the agency to solve the issue of burden sharing is unrealistic as member states haven't reached a clear consensus on this topic so far.
Aspects present in discussions are search and rescue actions undertaken by means deployed in the framework of the Nautilus operation. I said last year in The Times that the raison d'être of Frontex is not emergency actions. Nevertheless, we will not close our eyes when people are dying at sea. Protection of human life is a hard core of modern civilisation. Saving people in distress is not only a legal issue, it is a moral obligation for all of us.
Search and rescue activities will continue, as Nautilus will. We are still present in the region and we will be present there next year with Nautilus 2009, in which Frontex encourages member states to participate.
Frontex was established to coordinate operational assistance provided to one member state by others. As long as member states are willing to help, Frontex will be there to coordinate. This is how we understand our mission.
Here is a list of experts and assets taking part in Nautilus 2008 joint operations: Belgium - experts; France - experts, one aircraft and one offshore patrol vessel; Germany - experts and two helicopters; Greece - experts; Italy - experts, two aircraft, one helicopter, two coastal patrol vessels and three offshore patrol vessels; Luxembourg - experts and one aircraft; Malta - experts, one aircraft, two coastal patrol vessels and one offshore patrol vessel; Portugal - experts; Romania - experts; Spain - experts and UK - experts.