Brussels, 22/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 21 September, French Immigration Minister Eric Besson proposed strengthening the European external borders agency Frontex, to meet the challenges of illegal immigration in the Mediterranean. “The time for statements of intent has passed, now we have to move to action,” Besson told his counterparts in the Justice and Home Affairs Council. “Priority has to be given to stepping up surveillance and control of our external borders,” he said. He proposed five measures to beef up Frontex: - slanting the maritime operational doctrine towards interception and return; - virtually systematic cooperation between Frontex and the states from which migrants leave; - setting up specialist Frontex offices, particularly in the Mediterranean from 2010; - chartering grouped flights for returning migrants; - an “Erasmus” programme for border guards. “Either we take the necessary steps or we stop putting this point on the agenda for the Council, and say clearly to the member states which are on the front line that their problems are of no concern to Europe,” Besson said. Several days ago, the European Commission announced that, at the start of 2010, it would propose a review of the regulation setting up Frontex to enhance its powers and means. (B.C./transl.rt)