Dresden, 15/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, Immigration Commissioner Franco Frattini called for Member States to give more aid to the European Frontier Agency (FRONTEX) for meet the challenge of further massive arrivals of immigrants on the southern coasts of the EU. It was “absolutely impossible” that Member States could refused to give FRONTEX what it needed, said Mr Frattini shortly before EU interior ministers began their discussion on immigration (see EUROPE 9342). “We need helicopters, boats, planes,” Mr Frattini declared. Without the help of the Member States, it would be extremely difficult to avoid a new influx of immigrants in April, May and June, he warned. More than 31,000 sub-Saharan Africans reached the Canary Islands in 2006. Malta, Italy and Greece face similar problems. (bc)