Brussels, 22/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 21 October, the prime ministers of Greece and Malta, Antonis Samaras and Joseph Muscat respectively, called on the European Union to take “decisive action on illegal immigration”, according to Maltese media. Samaras had travelled to Malta after a boat of immigrants recently capsized between Malta and the island of Lampedusa, leaving 36 people dead - particularly Syrian refugees. Samaras was also due to visit Italy the same day, with the objective of preparing for the Greek Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. In Malta, Samaras said that the boats capsizing and the tragedies of illegal immigration are a “humanitarian problem that needs a European solution”, and he called on the member states to share the “responsibilities”.
On Thursday and Friday, the EU heads of state and government meeting in Brussels will be called to take position on the recent immigration tragedies - with the most tragic shipwreck leaving 350 dead off Lampedusa on 3 October. An initial draft conclusions document simply deplored these events and postponed the issue to the agenda of a specific European Council in June 2014 which will focus on European migratory policy and on the future of European justice and home affairs policies. However, the objective is reportedly to step up discussions - with France in particular having stated its intention to work on a three-point strategy (prevention, solidarity and protection). Italy also intends to present a plan. And according to a more recent draft, the Council would reportedly be asked to reflect on short term measures, on strengthening Frontex, on cooperation with the UNHCR and EASO, and to return to this work in December. Nevertheless the conclusions are still expected to change.
In Luxembourg on Tuesday, the Council of the EU formally adopted the EUROSUR regulation - a system which will connect border guards much more easily and is expected to improve detecting boats in distress at sea. Eighteen countries are due to start using the system in December. At Tuesday's Council in Luxembourg, some countries wanted to add a statement - especially the countries that are faced the most with migratory flows, like Italy, Spain, Malta, Greece and France. These countries are opposed to the Commission's intentions to give Frontex a safety mission at sea and recall that this competence relates strictly to member states. EUROSUR will contribute to improving the protection of migrants and to saving lives among them, the statement says. The Council reiterates that search and rescue at sea is a competence of the member states that they exercise as part of international conventions, the statement goes on. (SP/transl.fl)