EU's €272m bill to protect borders

EU: The European Union will have to come up with more than €272 million to protect Europe's borders for the period 2007 to 2013, European Commission vice-president Franco Frattini told the European Parliament yesterday.

Addressing a European Parliament debate on "management of migration flows", the commissioner, who has responsibility for justice, freedom and security, said funds for equipment, boats, helicopters and aircraft would be necessary in the coming years.

It was now clear, he said, that the top two priorities of the EU were the fight against terrorism and management of migration.

Calling for agreement between the commission and the parliament to increase the budget over the coming years, Commissioner Frattini said the problem should not be placed on the countries of "first call" for illegal immigrants. While these countries were currently identified as Spain (including the Canary Islands), Malta and Italy, he was sure that immigration pressures were being felt by new member states in the east, "from our eastern neighbours".

It was also suggested by Commissioner Frattini that Europe should strengthen co-operation with north African countries, in particular Algeria, Morocco and Libya. Both the EU and Morocco needed to share responsibility for "those who need protection, including asylum seekers", he said.

"We should also ensure that illegal immigrants are returned to their countries. In this respect, the commission is ready to support the member states politically, diplomatically and financially," he said.

He added that the development of a legal framework for migration and the setting up of an admissions procedure for legal migrants would set up a "virtuous circle" or a positive structure of incentives.

However, criticism was raised by a number of MEPs who voiced concern over the number of illegal immigrants risking their lives to journey to the Canary Islands this year. Border controls in specific locations, which shift migration flows, were said to be "missing the point", according to the Greens.

The Green Group called for the activation of the relevant clauses in the EU treaties on justice and home affairs as a matter of urgency to resolve the impasse on a common immigration policy and to ensure that decisions are clearly covered by the European Court of Justice, rather than sitting in a legal limbo.