EU and Libya form ‘Seahorse’ network to fight irregular migration

Malta in multi-national project to train African nations in monitoring land and sea borders

European Union member states and Libya will join forces as part of the Seahorse Mediterraneo project, presented today in Madrid, in an agreement to curb irregular immigration between Mediterranean countries.

The project is an extension of the cooperation accord existing since 2006 between African countries on the Atlantic ocean coast.

Approved by the European Commission, the project will develop over the next three years in collaboration with Spain, Italy, France, Malta, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and Libya, while Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt are expected sign on in 2014.

The agreement includes the establishment of the Seahorse Mediterranean network, the training of coastguards and the holding of courses for coast and land border monitoring in Libya and North African countries.

The project is a continuation of the Seahorse Atlantico programme, which made it possible to diminish migratory pressures via sea from Africa to Europe: a decrease from 31,000 migrants intercepted in 2006 to 332 in 2012.

 

 

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First of all let's stop all this politically correct nonsense and call it what it really is. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. Secondly, we do not want more expensive burocracy and a copy of Frontex but the return of ALL illegal immigrants in Malta whatever status they have been given. Somalia has had a President and Parliament elected for more than a year and a Constitution chosen by the people, so there's no problem to send them back and they NO longer qqualify for any protection. Eritreans also should be sent back. Ethiopians yesterday evening rioted in Hal-Safi, wrecked furiture and tried to pull down the retaining walls http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130920/local/disturbance-at-safi-detention-centre.486934 Disturbance at Safi detention centre . They also have no right to claim anything so send ALL illegal immigrants back to their own countries and no ifs and buts because the people are really FED UP with them and the authorities intransigence on illegal immigration.
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U min se iwahhal l-gongol f'ghonq il-qattus; jekk l-Commissioner of Immigration, iridt imexxina u jibbulija lill- Malta lejn is-South jekk ahna irridu immorru lejn in-North? Habib tieghi Malti ta 27 sena jghix ma partner mill-Brazil( ta 26 sena) u hi samranija,u ghandha professjoni: kull tlett xhur tridt bil-fors issiefer ghax inkella ma iggedewlix l-visa taghha, allavolja dawn se jizzewgu is-sena id-diehla u lest li jaghmel tajjeb ghaiha. Din dahlet Malta bil-passaport u bil-viza u ghalhekk qed taqla fuq rasha waqt li jekk tidhol Malta illegalment jaghtuk treatment differenti?
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I hope that we don't get a Frontex by another name. Anything short of stopping illegal immigrants from invading our country is not good enough. And we also expect this 'Seahorse' to take migrants who fled their country back to where they legally belong.
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@ Pulu: Does that include the priest in Italy?
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Is the EU FINALLY getting smart? Or did Joseph Muscat hit a soft spot when he said that PUSH BACK still remains an option? Could it be that the EU and the other EU States are more afraid of the PUSH FORWARD? Something to think about. The EU never cared to protect Malta and the Maltese people before maybe because under the last administration it was all OK for these illegal immigrants to come to Malta as long as they stay here, maybe under the direction of the priest in Italy directing the human trafficking? There is something fishy written all over this story and the profitable NGOs don't seem to happy about this whole deal. By the way what is going to happen to the illegal immigrants that are already here? Do we send them back or forward them all to Mainland Europe?
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We do not want more bureaucracy. We want the EU to track down and prosecute human traffickers.