Brussels, 27/08/2007 (Agence Europe) - A source close to the Times of Malta news agency recently declared that the European agency for the management and operational cooperation of the external borders of the EU member states, Frontex, had decided that its patrol operations in the Sicilian canal between Malta and Sicilia (Nautilus II) would resume in two weeks. Last week the European Commission reviewed information published in the German press that explained that Frontex had not stopped but had instead suspended its operation in the Mediterranean in August. A Commission spokesperson indicated that operations had basically been suspended since 27 July following a risk analysis carried out in cooperation with member states. The spokesperson explained that these operations would start up again soon. The risk analysis looked at existing needs, with a view to elaborating, in cooperation with the member states concerned, an intervention plan. Ferran Tarradellas Espuny also pointed out that Frontex was currently carrying out two operations off the Atlantic coast (Canaries), as well as an operation “on the Southern Spanish coasts”. He pointed out that Frontex was working with the resources that member states had agreed to make available to it and that Commissioner Franco Frattini wanted them to keep their promises concerning resources “at the beginning of next year”. (ol,bc)