Brussels, 24/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - While it is expected there will be a large number of illegal immigrants arriving on the southern shores of the European Union again this year, MEPs have once more called on member states to pull together to combat illegal immigration, partly through the work of the recently established Frontex Agency. “The Commission considers 2008 to be a test year” for Frontex, said Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, during a debate organised on Wednesday 23 April at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
According to the commissioner, the agency's operational capacity has been enhanced: - the overall Frontex budget is higher (€70 million), the Crate base (Central Record of Available Technical Equipment) is completely operational with, in particular, member states having made available 18 aircraft, 20 helicopters and 105 vessels, and rapid intervention teams are on the spot. Although this year will indeed be a test for the agency, the agency is “only a part of the solution” for combating illegal immigration and it must “prove that it deserves the support of Parliament”, said Simon Busuttil (EPP-ED, Malta), above all stressing that member states should cooperate and “share the burden, rather than point a finger at each other” and that the Council should systematically avoid tackling this subject. Speaking on behalf of the PES Group, Claudio Fava of Italy pointed out that Frontex is “a coordination agency” that is not responsible for border management, a task that is incumbent on member states. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (NL), of the ALDE Group, takes the view that it is essential for the states to comply with the principle of “compulsory solidarity” if they really wish to meet the challenges of immigration. Frontex is becoming militarised and its policy consists in choosing the best migrants and in making the others turn back, deplored Tobias Pflüger (GUE/NGL, Germany), who called for Frontex to be “dissolved”. Koenraad Dillen (NA, Belgium) said Frontex can only work with the political and technical support of member states that are unfortunately “more or less active in this respect”. “Is Frontex a lightning conductor intended to calm European citizens?” asked the MEP. Patrick Gaubert (EPP-ED, France) said Frontex has a clear mission to “protect our borders in order to protect our citizens (…). Also, Frontex must be able to act very fast, more upstream, more intelligently”. As a result, he added, member states must make available to the agency all necessary means to allow it to accomplish its missions. Affirming that negligence of the key principles and the lack of political will is a threat to the good functioning of the agency, he set out the principles of responsibility, solidarity, and respect of commitments of which each member state should be reminded.
By way of conclusion, the Slovenian secretary of state for European affairs, Janez Lenarèiè, said that the “Council does not avoid anything”, citing the directive on returns as an important aspect of the fight against illegal immigration (see related article). Refusing to say that solidarity “does not exist”, he did say, however, that it could be improved. Mr Barrot asserted that he had noted questions and musings presented by MEPs. He said that a next stage would be that of setting up a more binding system for member states. In the same way, “for places that are particularly exposed geographically, one could imagine permanent operational centres, and Frontex is working on this”. Insisting on the fact that it is the responsibility of member states to rescue those who are shipwrecked, he nonetheless stressed that action coordinated by Frontex has already allowed lives to be saved. He also pointed out that the EU must begin to manage migratory flows, which will not be done solely through external border surveillance. An overall approach to migration is needed, as well as close cooperation with the countries of origin, he stressed. (B.C.)