EU to create emergency fund

European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini has taken up the Maltese government's proposal to create an emergency fund to help countries like Malta deal better with the influx of illegal immigrants.

Mr Frattini has given instructions for the setting up of the fund, which reach €20 million and hopefully become available by the beginning of next summer, his spokesman told The Times yesterday.

The news will come not a moment too soon for Malta, as it struggles to cope with the illegal immigrants swelling its detention centres after a wave of landings over the summer.

Malta has been pressing for such a fund at various EU fora over the past few months. Ministers Michael Frendo and Tonio Borg as well as various MEPs have repeatedly asked the EU to take up the proposal.

Currently, there is no official funding to combat illegal immigration crises. The new fund will form part of the existing European Refugee Fund programme.

The spokesman, Friso Roscam Abbing, said: "Mr Frattini will be submitting the first details of his proposal in December during the Justice and Home Affairs Council to be held in Brussels.

"We are considering a special emergency fund able to provide assistance, including financial help, to member states that find themselves facing emergencies, such as Malta, Italy, Greece and Spain.

"We need to make sure that this fund is available before the start of next summer when the 'season' of illegal immigration is at its peak. We appreciate that this is not a problem to be dealt with by the individual member states but by the EU as a whole and that is why we are taking this important step."

He said that Mr Frattini will shortly be visiting countries affected by illegal immigration such as Spain and Italy to discuss the proposal. And although the Commission vice president had visited Malta last July and knows its immigration problem very well, he would be prepared to visit again soon.

"If the Maltese government feels it would be better for Mr Frattini to visit again to better discuss this proposal, we would be available to come again," the spokesman said.

Addressing the European and Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday evening, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said that Ireland, like the Netherlands, was considering taking a number of refugees or migrants granted humanitarian protection by Malta.

Technical assistance was also being offered by Germany, Italy and the UK while the Czech Republic had said it was willing to assist Malta but wanted to coordinate with other countries.

Dr Frendo said that he brought up the issue of illegal migration during an informal meeting with his Nigerian counterpart last Sunday on the fringes of a Commonwealth meeting.

The Nigerian minister was very receptive to Malta's request for a repatriation agreement with Nigeria and other Commonwealth countries.

In fact, proposed repatriation agreements were being sent to other Commonwealth countries that may have nationals residing illegally in Malta.

On talks with Libya, Dr Frendo said Malta was awaiting a reply on when a technical committee formed between the two countries could meet.

Labour MP George Vella asked why Malta did not have a repatriation agreement with Libya, such as the one Italy had.

Dr Frendo said that there was no written repatriation agreement between Italy and Libya, but there was a verbal arrangement on repatriation. Malta would continue seeking a repatriation agreement with Libya.

Malta was also trying to strengthen its diplomatic links with countries from which the immigrants hailed.