Brussels, 29/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - Immigration Commissioner Jacques Barrot addressed a letter to the 27 member states on Wednesday 27 May, calling on them to act together to address the immigration crisis in the Mediterranean (EUROPE 9910). In his letter, Barrot states that the situation causes increasing concern. There is great loss of life at sea as people seek to reach the EU. The protection systems of a number of member states are, he says, put under great pressure, and a growing number of migrants manage to enter the Union illegally. Given such an emergency, Barrot points out, it is necessary to have a true European response based on solidarity between member states. He recommends short-term measures. At the internal level, the commissioner trusts member states will choose to voluntarily host persons placed under international protection in the most exposed member states. In time, a more structured solidarity mechanism would be proposed. At external level, it is a matter of creating, in Libya, with the support of the HCR, a means of hosting and protecting asylum seekers in line with international standards. This would, among other things, allow the status of persons sent back to Libya to be analysed in detail, and an offer of reinstallation could possibly be put to them. Mr Barrot also suggests strengthening ways to protect refugees and asylum seekers in the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries, including through regional protection programmes and reinstallation programmes. In the field of maritime border control, it would be appropriate to adopt clear provisions with regard to the place of disembarkation of persons rescued within the framework of operations. Also, it is necessary to use all means available to Frontex, including the organisation of joint return flights, and where necessary within the framework of readmission agreements. The commissioner considers it would be useful to organise an EU-Africa ministerial conference on migration and development, a sort of Tripoli II which would focus on migratory routes from East Africa. Finally, on the subject of Libya within negotiation of a framework agreement, a cooperation programme could be adopted providing for practical measures on border control, prevention and fight against illegal immigration and people smuggling, as well as dialogue on visa facilitation. These proposals will be the subject of a debate at the Home Affairs Council on 4 June. (B.C./transl.jl)