Frontex, the EU's border control agency, insisted yesterday that its anti-illegal immigration patrols off the shores of Malta will continue as planned.

Nautilus III, in the central Mediterranean, will proceed according to pre-established plans and will be running until the end of October for a total of 23 weeks, a spokesman for Frontex told The Times yesterday.

This year's mission, the third of its kind, is the longest to be coordinated by Frontex and is aimed at deterring organised criminal organisations from ferrying illegal immigrants from north African countries to the EU's shoreline.

Frontex's spokesman said that, although at present only Maltese and Italian assets are deployed in the area, the mission is functioning well and according to the operational plans agreed with all the participating member states. The Nautilus III mission was recently criticised due to the lack of surveillance assets from Germany and France, which are supposed to participate in the patrols together with the Maltese and Italian armed forces. The spokesman said that the operational plan envisaged that not all countries would necessarily be involved simultaneously in the operation.

"The joint operation is planned months in advance and, therefore, at times you can see means from some member states and at other times from others. This is just how this mission is planned. However, I can assure you that everything is running according to the operational plan agreed with all the member states involved," the spokesman said.

Asked specifically whether France and Germany are still participating, the spokesman insisted that both member states are still involved. However, he admitted that only Italy and Malta have their assets deployed at present.

"The absence of assets from the other member states does not mean that the operation is postponed or halted. We can have other means from other member states (France and Germany) tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Drawing conclusions that the operation is not working is just too simplistic," he insisted.

Apart from Malta and Italy, the main contributors in terms of assets and personnel towards the Nautilus III mission, Germany and France have also pledged helicopters and vessels.

This year's mission commenced on May 16 and has a budget of €8 million. Eighty per cent of all expenses incurred by Malta's armed forces for this mission are covered by EU funds.