Brussels, 15/02/2007 (Agence Europe) -European Commissioner for Immigration Franco Frattini indicated that 19 member states made a commitment on Thursday to provide equipment to the EU border surveillance agency, Frontex, so that it will be able to start patrols on the EU's coastlines and prevent the massive influx of illegal immigrants into the Union. Around two thirds of member states responded positively to the appeal launched at the end of January by the agency. Mr Frattini indicated that the others had still not answered, but that he was “very satisfied” at the end of the meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels. A diplomatic source indicated that Director Ilkka Laitinen attended the meeting and explained that for the instant they had obtained about half of the equipment needed for Frontex missions, notably that for patrols off the coast of the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. The agency succeeded in getting 13 helicopters, 48 patrol boats, 8 reconnaissance planes, as well as a variety of vehicles and technical equipment (heat-sensitive cameras, radar, etc.) from member states. The main contributors are Italy, Spain, Finland and Germany explained the same source. Laitinen will be presenting a list of additional equipment needed, in March. Commissioner Frattini also pointed out that the draft regulation setting up rapid border intervention teams (RABIT) was expected to be adopted by the Council in April at the latest, just after the Parliament gives its green light. These rapid intervention teams should then be operational in May, explained the commissioner. (bc)