Brussels, 03/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 1 April, European Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Jacques Barrot launched a fresh appeal to EU member states to stop the flood of immigrants crossing the Mediterranean. His call comes after 257 people, who had set sail from Libya on the previous Sunday to try to reach the European coast, lost their lives when their boat overturned off the Libyan coast. “We hope the events of the last few days will make all member states realise the seriousness of the problem,” he said during the debate in the European Parliament (EP). The Commission believes it “intolerable” that this trend was continuing, Barrot added, calling on all parties to make all possible efforts to halt it. He also called on all member states to cooperate in implementing the two naval operations, Nautilus and Hermes, organised and financed by Frontex to the tune of €24 million and which are to be launched in the near future to try to discourage the huge waves of immigrants arriving in Europe. “Member states must stand foursquare with Italy and Malta, who bear the brunt of the migratory flows from Libya,” he said, adding, “Libya has to assume its responsibilities on readmitting illegal immigrants who travelled through its territory”. The commissioner believes that Libya has a “key role” to play in tackling traffickers, in stopping illegal immigrants leaving from its shores and in offering international protection to migrants. At the opening of the plenary session of the European Parliament on Wednesday 1 April, Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP-ED, Germany) expressed his condolences and sadness for those who perished. He called on Europeans to “find ways to bring this tragedy to an end”. A minute's silence was observed in memory of the dead. Chairman of the EP civil liberties committee Gérard Deprez (ALDE, Belgium) said that “such dramas will continue to be played out until such time as the EU has the power and the will to negotiate genuine partnership agreements with countries of origin and transit”. He felt that such agreements should provide for serious border control and also, and above all, a significant level of legal immigration and a substantial co-development chapter. “Without such agreements … coastal cemeteries will continue to fill, despite the compassion we feel,” he said. (B.C./transl.rt)