Brussels, 28/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, EU ambassadors invited the Commission to put forward proposals as soon as possible in order to meet Malta's request to share out immigrants rescued in the Mediterranean in a proportionate manner between member states. During the JHA Council of 12 and 13 June, Maltese Interior Minister Tonio Borg had called on the EU27 to study the possibility of such a breakdown, given the growing number of migrants rescued at sea since mid-May between Libya and Malta (EUROPE 9445). The Commission's first proposals will be discussed on 25 July during a meeting of the Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA). The representatives also insisted that the rules of immediate repatriation and readmission of illegal immigrants be applied. The ambassadors made a whole series of recommendations directly drawn from the last European Council (EUROPE 9452). The Commission is invited to take swift action to follow up the commitment to reinforce the operational budget of FRONTEX (€35 million for 2007). Frontex and member states should look at how joint patrols in the regions most affected by illegal immigration can be intensified. Member states are also invited to fulfil their commitment to ensure the availability of the equipment in the centralised records of available technical equipment (“tool box”) and to contribute to the stepping up of joint patrols in the context of the European Patrols Network. It should be noted that Frontex launched the Nautilus II operation on Monday 25 June, a mission in Maltese waters and the surrounding international area, where several dozen illegal migrants have been intercepted in recent days. The operation mobilises aircraft, boats and personnel of several countries: Malta, Spain, Greece, Italy, Germany and France. Libya has not wished to take part in the operation. Given this situation, EU ambassadors have agreed that the Commission and the Portuguese EU Presidency should contact the countries in question (e.g. Libya) in order to improve practical cooperation in the field of illegal immigration. (bc)