As the European People’s Party meeting in Malta wrapped up yesterday, it could easily be said Malta has achieved more in terms of European solidarity on irregular migration in three days than it has over the past three years of EU membership.

For starters, European Commission vice-president Franco Frattini made the monumental announcement that Frontex patrols in the vicinity of Malta are to become permanent, year-round fixtures come January. In addition, he announced that the EU’s rapid border intervention teams would also become available to member states facing migratory emergencies as from the first week of next month.

But perhaps over and above such immediately tangible matters, EPP politicians congregating in Malta had first-hand experience of Malta’s plight as it struggles to bear the burden of the African-European irregular migration phenomenon.

Closing yesterday’s final session, which was dedicated wholly to the issue of immigration, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi commented: “Much of the study days concentrated on the Mediterranean, the soft belly of the EU, and, importantly for Malta, representatives have appreciated the Maltese need for special attention on the issue.

“We find ourselves in a difficult situation and the solidarity and initiatives announced over the course of our meetings will help us to address the challenge.”

EPP Chairman Joseph Daul added: “We have understood the crystal clear message of Malta’s plight, as well as Malta’s dissatisfaction with being left alone to deal with the issue.”

“It is incumbent upon us to show Malta solidarity and the EPP, the largest and most powerful political group with 278 members from 27 states, will be holding the Portuguese EU presidency to its word of placing the issue of migration and the formulation of a common migration policy at the top of its agenda,” said Mr Daul.

“We also have to do all we can to stamp out the criminal gangs organising human trafficking and I will do all I can to fight such gangs. The strength of the EPP is its values, and they are the light that guides us. We will do all we can to help our Maltese friends.”

Also addressing yesterday’s closing press conference, Maltese MEP and head of the Maltese EPP delegation Simon Busuttil was similarly upbeat, commenting: “EPP MEPs have now understood what we have been saying for the last three years. They have seen the Maltese reality, they have seen our population density, they have been to open centres and they have even seen rough seas and appreciated the human tragedy taking place.

“Every MEP who came to Malta will now return with a better understanding of the Maltese predicament and the need for solidarity and a common migration policy.”

Mr Frattini, who also serves as the EU’s justice, freedom and security commissioner, has been unequivocal over the course of the three-day meeting that Europe must come to Malta’s assistance.

Speaking yesterday, he stressed: “We need to guarantee that solidarity with member states at the fore of the immigration problem is respected. We need a better strategy for the protection of the Mediterranean, which is important for our Maltese friends.

“Yesterday I had the opportunity to see the Frontex operations for myself. Yes, something has been done, but more is needed.

“The issue of member states living up to their commitments to Frontex missions is not a technical or bureaucratic matter, but it is rather a political issue and as a party we have a real political role to play. A lot of member states have not showed solidarity and support, but their political commitments need to be transformed into tangible results.

“The primary duty incumbent on us is to save human lives, but this cannot be the duty of just one member state like Malta. It is simply not feasible to leave the burden of the whole central Mediterranean area on Malta. We cannot ask Malta to be the EU’s policeman to block off the Mediterranean.

“We are talking about millions of desperate people, and the respect for human life and dignity is a basic European and EPP value. We clearly need a common EU migration policy through which the whole of the EU can unite, since it is impossible to continue addressing legal and illegal immigration purely at national levels.”

Mr Frattini stressed that the EU cannot continue to confuse the issue of illegal migration with legal migration, adding that a balanced approach to migration must be developed that cracks down on human traffickers while at the same time providing for legal migration and employment opportunities for migrants in the countries of origin.

In respect of illegal migration, Mr Frattini said a much-needed EU repatriation strategy is in the making and funding of EUR7 million for joint repatriation flights has been secured.

In tandem, cooperation with countries of transit and origin also has to be stepped up through the development of a work programme in which member states, many of which require labourers, would decide how many such workers they need and what type of skills they require.

“This, however, involves the principle of conditionality,” Mr Frattini added. “We can offer jobs for would-be illegal immigrants, but we also have to have cooperation on dismantling human trafficking rings.”

Mr Frattini also observed that Malta’s recent burden-sharing proposals have been discussed at the European Council and the EU’s Portuguese presidency has promised to continue the debate.

“We can and should give Malta a reassurance,” he added. “It is not Malta’s intention to consign large numbers of migrants to other member states, but the idea is that migrants should not have to remain in the member state where they have washed up. To this effect we need effective repatriation and resettlement procedures.”

On the controversial input, or lack thereof, from member states to Frontex missions, Mr Frattini observed: “We have commitments from 19 member states for 115 patrol vessels, 25 helicopters and 25 aircraft, but only 10 per cent of the promises have been kept so far.

“If we are to make Frontex truly effective, please at least put at its disposal what has been put in writing.”

Jozsef Szajer, vice-chair of the EPP group, called for the naming and shaming of member states that have not lived up to their Frontex promises.

“Some member states do not feel this is their problem, but only the problem of states such as Italy and Malta,” he added.

“We make nice speeches about solidarity but when a real situation such as this crops up, we are far from delivering. We need a stronger Europe. We will not forget the message of our Maltese friends – the credibility of the EU is on the line with this issue.”

Mr Daul echoed this sentiment and said he would be bringing the naming and shaming issue back with him to Brussels, where he will press for the initiative.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, addressing yesterday’s session, which was dedicated solely to migration, observed how the migration phenomenon has had a heavy impact on Malta over the past five-and-a-half years, with Malta having received some 7,700 migrants, many of which had been saved from certain death.

But, he predicted, this movement of people will remain the status quo as long as there are areas of abject poverty near other areas of prosperity.

“There is no easy solution, nor is there a one-size-fits-all approach to the issue,” Dr Borg said. “What we need are partial solutions on different fronts – a way of solving the problem without creating a Fortress Europe.”

Along these lines, he added: “Solidarity cannot be just an empty word used at meetings and seminars – it has to be a concrete action.

“Malta and other border states have felt abandoned, and are acting as the EU’s frontier police. We have to fight to change the attitude that the problem is limited to such border countries because the problem will inevitably spread as there are no directives or regulations that will prevent the iron will of migrants who have already risked so much to make it to Malta to move further into Europe. There can be no doubt that we need burden-sharing in resettlement, which, if found wanting, will happen all the same but in a disorganised way.”

He pointed out that, as a very conservative estimate, some 600 migrants have lost their lives so far this year attempting to cross the Mediterranean in flimsy boats. “Where else do we see such a tragedy?” he asked. “When there are fires or earthquakes, we all rush to help each other – but we are not nearly so quick to react when it comes to migration.”

Malta, he observed, is the EU’s smallest member state, but also has the highest population density. The arrivals in Malta in the last five-and-a-half years equates to some 1.5 million arrivals in Germany. Another difference, he added, is that Malta has no hinterland and as such, the migrants it receives are not eventually sent on to Spain or Italy such as happens with the Canary Islands or Lampedusa.

“Over the past years Malta has promoted the concept of burden-sharing. Neither Malta nor any supporters are suggesting that border states are unable to deal with the problem – just that the excess must be shared,” Dr Borg added.

“Malta recognises its moral and legal obligations by providing humanitarian and other types of protective status to those deserving. In fact, more than half of those applying for some type of status in Malta are granted it.”

Dr Borg was adamant that Frontex missions near Malta are serving as a significant deterrent to human traffickers who, he says, are becoming rich through exploiting migrants. He noted that recently, traffickers were charging $1,000 per passage with no guarantee of success or survival – meaning a relatively small boatload of migrants would earn traffickers $28,000.

The issue of Libyan cooperation on the issue, however remains something of a sticking point.

“Libyan cooperation is key – not just for Malta, but for the whole EU,” Mr Frattini commented on the subject. “If we do not involve Libya in patrolling the Mediterranean, we will be making a mistake. We are offering help with patrolling Libya’s desert borders, but, in return, they must help in the Mediterranean.

“The offer has been made and we are awaiting a response from Libya.

In a virtually unprecedented move, Libyan ambassador to Malta Saad El Shlmani requested an intervention in light of the plethora of comments about his country’s lack of involvement on the migration issue.

“Libya is under great strain as well, and is one of the countries also suffering from illegal immigration – both as a country of transit and of destination. Libya is doing all it can to limit the phenomenon. This is, of course, an international problem, and not just a Malta-Libya problem, which requires international cooperation and solution.

“I can assure you that Libya is making a 100 per cent effort and I reaffirm that Libya is always willing to cooperate and help. But controlling our 4,000 kilometre desert and 2,000 kilometre coastal borders is a huge task.

“We need to make clear to our European friends that we need more EU-African cooperation. Libya has always tried to help with the development of the African continent but the EU also has a huge duty to help with the development and stability of the continent.”

The European Parliament will be sending a second delegation to Libya in the autumn, this time to see how the EU could help Libya with its southern borders, following a similar delegation visit in December 2005, which looked at the Libyan coastal woes, Dr Busuttil, who will once again be leading the delegation, announced.