The European Parliamentary Committee on Budgets has learnt a lot about the situation of migrants and refugees in Malta, vice-chairman Ralf Walter said yesterday at a press conference that wrapped up the committee’s two-day visit.

The committee, which includes Maltese MEPs Simon Busuttil and Louis Grech, paid a visit to Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg and Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity Dolores Cristina, as well as the Armed Forces of Malta Maritime Squadron Base and local NGOs working with migrants and asylum seekers.

Mr Walter made it a point that the problem of irregular migration cannot be solved in one fell swoop and the EU is trying to solve the problem at source, by helping Africans in their own countries. Migration is not a problem pertaining exclusively to southern Europe, as Eastern Europe is also facing migration problems albeit on a smaller scale.

The commission must have found the AFM visit and the meeting with NGOs to be the most informative as Mr Walter spoke extensively about them.

He said the AFM have to cope directly with the problem and also witness the tragedy of loss of life. Speaking about the AFM’s resources, Mr Walter said the External Boarders Fund allocated Malta EUR5 million this year; however, the Maritime Squadron needs a boat that costs EUR17 million. Mr Walter said the AFM gave the committee some insight on how migrants are transported and how the whole racket is run by organised crime based in North Africa. He stressed that the EP is not responsible for combating crime as this is within the remit of the various police forces of Europe.

Mr Walter referred to FRONTEX saying that its deployment in July reduced migration by 60 per cent compared to July 2006. FRONTEX, he said, depends heavily on resources pledged by member States, and these decide when and how they should contribute these resources. He said the agency is in its infancy and is still finding its feet, as it has only been functioning for the past two years.

The committee praised the work carried out by local NGOs, and the meeting focused on how they deal with the problems and the availability of funding. Mr Walter said the NGOs carry out admirable work.

Next year, Malta will be allocated EUR8 million out of the External Borders Fund; however, Mr Walter said there are some funds that are currently frozen and “awaiting a legal base” that can only be given by the Council of Ministers.

The German MEP said the visit has made him and his fellow committee members aware of Malta’s reality and made a strong appeal against acting out of emotions, “as this can be very dangerous and lead you in a completely wrong direction”.

Meeting Mr Walter, Labour leader Alfred Sant said that any integration programmes do not make much sense in the Maltese context because Malta is a small island.

Contrary to other Mediterranean islands, such as Lampedusa, Dr Sant added, Malta does not have a larger territory where illegal immigrants can be sent to.

The burden of facing up to the immigration is too much for Malta to shoulder, Dr Sant added. Illegal immigration is creating social tension. The illegal immigrants who come here must be treated humanely, according to the European concept of solidarity but the other members of the EU must help Malta shoulder this burden.