Brussels, 24/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - Maritime patrols in the central Mediterranean are not effectively combating illegal immigration, according to Ilka Laitinen, Director of Frontex, the EU's external border agency. “Unfortunately, increased EU patrols in the Mediterranean are failing to prevent an increase in clandestine migrants reaching Italy, Malta and Greece by sea”, he pointed out on Saturday 20 September in Brussels, as reported by the Times of Malta. Figures in hand, he acknowledges that the situation is becoming “increasingly alarming”. The number of migrants arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa has increased 190% over the first half of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007. Malta for its part registers an increase of 32% over the whole of 2007. Although the Libyan authorities' lack of resolve in stemming the flow of migrants is the main reason for the number of illegal crossings from its coast, Mr Laitinen said the presence of more EU patrols in the area might also be a contributory factor. “This is the saddest part of the story. We have an increased level of operational activities which might be serving as a pull factor for traffickers”, Mr Laitinen deplored. In this respect, he explains that traffickers force immigrants to sink the boats they are sailing in close to the coasts of Malta and Lampedusa so that they will be saved by Frontex vessels and taken ashore. Nicknamed Nautilus III, the joint EU mission coordinated by Frontex on the central Mediterranean route surveys the stretch of sea between Sicily, Malta and Libya against migrant trafficking. Five member states participate in the mission (Malta, Italy, France, Germany and Greece) for a total cost of €8 million. Frontex statistics show that, since the beginning of the mission in May, 12 641 illegal immigrants arrived in Lampedusa and 2 192 landed in Malta. None of the immigrants intercepted by Frontex has been directed back as Libya does not accept any responsibility for the migrants fleeing its coast. Mr Laitinen's comments about the ineffectiveness of EU patrols have been denied by the Maltese interior minister, Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, who considers, on the contrary, that the situation would have been worse if Frontex had not been on the spot. “Frontex is a good measure and would be more effective if there were a stronger presence in the Mediterranean”, he said. (B.C./transl.jl)