Malta seeks EU funding to strengthen border controls

Malta is set to benefit from EU funding to strengthen its border controls and surveillance following a recent decision by the Union's foreign ministers to revise an action programme on cooperation in the areas of visas, asylum and immigration.

The Argo programme provides financial support to national projects covering the EU's external borders by addressing weaknesses at the strategic border points. Malta is one of the member states on the external borders of the EU. A spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs told The Times that the revised programme, supported by Malta, should have a positive impact on the country. Now it will not have to seek other partners, as was the case before this revision, but will be able to put forward proposals for funding on its own steam.

The ministry will be holding meetings in the coming weeks with all the stakeholders with on visas, immigration and asylum in order to identify needs and formulate the necessary proposals to be submitted to the EU under the Argo programme.

Malta has been criticised in the past over the lack of proposals under this programme. However, the revision should make it easier for the Maltese authorities to take advantage of the funding opportunities.

The programme covers the period January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2006.

A European Commission spokesman said the programme supports training, staff exchanges, the computerised handling of files and electronic data exchange, the setting up of common operative centres and of teams composed of staff drawn from two or more member states, studies, conferences and seminars, as well as member states' cooperation activities in third countries.

A second call for proposals under this programme for this year has just been issued. All submissions have to reach the EU before mid-February 2005.