Brussels, 25/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 25 January, the EU Council adopted a draft decision on external maritime border surveillance, as part of the operational cooperation coordinated by Frontex. The text was subject to committee procedure and intends to support member states confronting situations involving the interception of immigrants at sea and their embarkation on to land. According to the document, priority must be given to returning migrants to third countries from where the boat transporting them departed. If this is not possible, they must then be sent to the “host” country, namely the zone from where the country mounting the search and rescue operation boat comes. In the event of people being ill, pregnant women being on board or the boat being in an un-seaworthy condition, migrants will be taken to the nearest port of call. (B.C./transl.fl)