Brussels, 25/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - Senegal and Spain have signed a joint declaration in which both countries commit to extend the Frontex operation to reinforce the fight against illegal emigration until 30 June 2008. Under the terms of this agreement, which was signed in Dakar on Friday 22 June by the Senegalese interior minister, Ousmane Ngom, and his Spanish opposite number, Alfredo Perez Rubalcalba, both parties have committed to reinforce the surveillance of their coasts, in order to prevent illegal migratory flows. This operation, which is known as “Hera III”, has seen some satisfactory results, according to the statistics of the Senegalese interior minister. On 15 June 2007, only 101 boats, with total passenger numbers of 4,304, had been recorded, a sharp decrease from 2006 figures: 901 vessels, mainly dugouts, transporting 35,481 illegal immigrants. From 6 September 2006 to 19 June 2007, 2,506 people were questioned in Senegal, a major departure point for illegal immigrants from the region: 1,702 were stopped at sea, 756 on land and 48 smugglers. Hera III started on 12 February. It is run with air and sea resources provided by Spain, Italy, France and Luxembourg, in liaison with the Senegalese authorities. Currently, two patrol boats, an aeroplane and a helicopter from Spain, together with an Italian aeroplane, are patrolling in Senegal. In parallel to this security plank, Madrid is also to create “workshop schools” in Senegal to provide professional training for young people hoping to enter Spain legally. (bc)