Brussels, 10/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Malta last week Commissioner Franco Frattini said that a request had been transmitted to Frontex for it to make its operations permanent to counter clandestine immigration off the coast of Malta, Libya and Italy (Nautilus II) and in the Atlantic Ocean (Hera). He said in Malta that 'the Frontex missions are useful and necessary. They have a discouraging impact on trafficking smugglers.' To date, only Germany has agreed to provide tangible aid to Malta by providing two helicopters to help the four Maltese patrol boats working in the Nautilus II operation launched on 25 June 2007. An Italian plane will soon be provided. Spain, Greece and France have also announced support. 'Malta cannot patrol alone a very broad area of search and rescue,' said Frattini, explaining that one of the main concerns of member states was to save people in need. He said systems for rapidly repatriating immigrants were required, and to this end rapid reaction teams of identification experts and interpreters would start work early next month. (bc)