Brussels, 05/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 June, European home affairs ministers gave a somewhat muted response to the options proposed by the European Commission to resolve the growing immigration problems encountered by the southern EU countries. Over lunch, the European Commissioner in charge of this matter, Jacques Barrot, detailed for ministers a raft of measures to help Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Spain and Greece, which are having to cope with ever increasing numbers of illegal immigrants, including a large number of asylum seekers, arriving on their shores. Among these measures was a mechanism that would see people who have been granted refugee status in one of above-named states re-settled in other member countries (see EUROPE 9910). Most member states, however, did not want such a mechanism to become compulsory. “While all member states agree that we cannot allow this serious problem to continue, there were differing opinions around the table … That was why we were cautious when facing the press,” said Czech Home Affairs Minister Martin Pecina during the Council meeting. As a result, “It is likely that there will be voluntary cooperation” in particular with Malta, he said during the press conference. Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni regretted the over cautiousness of his partners on sharing the burden. “We wanted it to be compulsory, but they would prefer it to be voluntary,” he said, adding that he feared it “will not work”. France said that it backed “pro-active voluntary efforts” with moral and political commitments. “We are about to resettle in France 80 migrants who were granted refugee status in Malta,” French Immigration Minister Eric Besson said. “The situation is becoming unbearable in the countries that find themselves on the front line and we have to do more to tackle illegal immigration,” he said, adding, “I have called for a European border police force with joint means to intercept, return and dismantle illegal networks”. He said that Frontex, given further means, could form the “heart” of this measure. Returning to the other Commission proposals, Besson said that there had to be discussion with the UNHCR on how to provide international protection in the countries of origin and transit, when many migrants are fleeing these same countries to seek refuge in Europe because they feel under threat. “We have to make sure that people who have the right to asylum do not feel they have to take risks and pay very highly to do so,” he said.
Libya. At the press conference, Barrot said he would begin negotiations with Libya to try to get it to sign the Geneva Convention on Refugees (see EUROPE 9914). At this point, no mandate had been granted by the Council, one diplomat pointed out. The minister said that everyone agreed there should be a partnership with Libya. “The sign sent by Italy has borne fruit,” he said, referring to the agreement that allows Italy to send migrants picked up at sea back to Libya. The Italian minister said that he had sent to the Commission a series of requests for assistance made by Libya. “It is absolutely necessary to give a response that allows it to continue with its efforts to stop illegal immigration,” he argued. “We estimate that we have 130,000 refugees resident in Italy. That's a drain on resources,” Maroni said. Greek Home Affairs Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos pointed out that, while Libya was a problem, so also was Turkey. “Let us not forget the problem in the east of the Mediterranean because a number of illegal immigrants from Turkey come in that way,” he said. “Accession negotiations give the EU a number of rights with regard to Turkey. Given the millions of euro allocated by the EU, Turkey has to be aware of its duties and meet its obligations on immigration and asylum. As for readmission, Turkey cannot reject the possibility of such an agreement,” he stated.
Swedish Presidency put to work. Pecina confirmed that Rome had asked the European Council of 18-19 June to adopt official conclusions on illegal immigration in the Mediterranean. “We are, however, only at the start of the discussion. It is a further issue to be dealt with by the forthcoming Swedish Presidency,” he said. (B.C./transl.rt)