Brussels, 01/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is currently putting the finishing touches to a proposal designed to reinforce the European Borders Agency (Frontex), based in Warsaw, allowing it amongst other things to operate its own returns flights to repatriate illegal immigrants. "We launched the revision of the regulation which created Frontex as an inter-services consultation, in order to give it additional resources, to allow it to work with third countries and possibly to allow it to open offices there if needs be", the European commissioner for immigration, Jacques Barrot, told EUROPE in an interview. He added that discussions were underway to determine whether these extensions of Frontex would be "geographical offices" or offices specialising in modes of transport, in other words in modes of immigration by air, sea or land. "We also intend to give the agency additional resources so that it can organise returns flights", he stressed. The outgoing commissioner also mentioned the adoption, on 25 January, of new rules to simplify rescues at sea during Frontex operations (EUROPE 10063). "This is to ensure that there are game rules in place to disembark people rescued at sea when in trouble", he explained, reiterating that he had had to carry out "tricky" arbitration between Italy and Malta, both of which accused the other of not taking on board its responsibilities when rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean. He believes that "the real solution" would be to open effective dialogue with Libya. Barrot had planned to visit Tripoli in early January, but the Libyans cancelled this visit. "One of the first actions that Cecilia Malmström should carry out is to go to Tripoli. We need sustained dialogue with the Libyans, because it is from that country that most migrants attempting to reach Malta or Lampedusa depart", Mr Barrot said. (B.C./transl.fl)