Brussels, 13/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 13 December, the EU member states' representatives to the EU on the Coreper committee agreed on the opening of talks with the European Parliament on future sea rescue operations by the Frontex agency.
A compromise was found to relieve the doubts of six countries that had been opposing the European Commission's suggestion to give the EU power through Frontex to carry out the rescue of immigrants at sea. A less binding approach referring to international law was arrived at on Friday morning. The six countries wanted to prevent the EU deciding on the fate of any rescued individual. This power will remain in national hands and it will be for the rescue vessel's flag country to deal with the rescued immigrants. The country leading the Frontex operation and the participant countries will have to cooperate with the rescue coordination centre for the region in question to decide where to land the rescued people. France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta and Cyprus wanted to ensure that the EU would not decide for them where immigrants should disembark. The negotiations will now accelerate and a trialogue meeting has been scheduled for 17 December. (SP/transl.fl)