Frontex Patrols End

The EU's coordinated patrols in the Mediterranean, aimed at deterring illegal immigration, ended on Sunday 14th Oct., 2007.

Operation Nautilus II had been running for more than a month in its second phase this summer, coordinated by the EU's border control agency.

"We can confirm that Nautilus II stopped last Sunday as planned," a European Commission source told The Times yesterday. "We believe the illegal migration 'season' is almost over and, thus, there is no need for this mission to continue, at least for this year."

The patrols were conducted over a four-month period divided into two phases. The Sicily-Malta-Libya strait was first patrolled for the full month of July. After a controversial pause in August, the mission resumed on September 10, 2007.

Apart from the Armed Forces of Malta, the mission also attracted the participation of naval and aerial assets from France, Germany, Portugal, Greece and Spain, although at different levels.

During the first phase, Italy had sent a small aircraft as a token participation. However, following a change of heart, it had decided to boost its participation in the second part of the mission by dispatching patrol boats and a frigate.

Commission sources said that although it was too early to draw any conclusions on the results of Nautilus II, the first indications were positive for Malta as fewer illegal immigrants arrived on the island in the course of the mission.

In the two phases, between July 1-31 and September 10 to October 14, 2007, a total of 579 illegal immigrants landed in Malta. This was 347 fewer than in the same period last year when a total of 926 immigrants ended up on Maltese shores.

According to European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini, during the first phase of Nautilus II, over 700 illegal immigrants were intercepted in the Mediterranean and turned back to their point of departure.

The sources said this year's main setback has again been the non-participation of Libya despite being invited to join.

Some 80 per cent of all costs incurred by the AFM for this mission will come from the EU budget. It is expected that Malta will be reimbursed €1 million (Lm429,300) in connection this year's mission.

The Commission has pledged that the patrols will be conducted on a permanent basis as from the beginning of next year.
by Ivan Camilleri in Brussels
The Times, Wed, Oct 17, 2007