No luck in Luxembourg over Frontex agreement

European justice ministers failed to agree on an amendment to the regulations establishing FRONTEX, with the result that the agency is likely to remain inoperative for the immediate future.

It is understood that the stumbling block remains the issue of whether individual member states should provide the agency with the assets it requires to run its border control operations - with all the expense and commitment this would involve.

Home Affairs Ministers also discussed immigration and asylum policy on the basis of the Commission’s Communication on migration of 4 May 2011, as well as the Commission’s Annual Report on migration and asylum and the Commission’s Communication on dialogue for migration, mobility and security with the Southern Mediterranean countries of 24 May 2011.

In this regard, the Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on borders, migration and asylum. These Conclusions make specific reference to further pledges from Member States for the relocation of beneficiaries of international protection from Malta under the extension of the Pilot Project for the intra-EU relocation of persons who are beneficiaries of international protection in Malta.

The Ministers also discussed the Common European Asylum System and had a first exchange of views on the revised proposals amending the Directives on Asylum Procedures and Reception Conditions, which were adopted by the Commission on 1 June 2011.

Moreover, Justice Ministers agreed to political guidelines for the establishment of harmonised applicable rules in cross-border successions and reached a general approach on a Roadmap for strengthening the rights and protection of victims. Ministers also had a first exchange of views on the Commission’s Communication on protecting the EU’s financial interests through criminal law.

These measures are aimed at enabling prosecutors and judges in the EU to fight fraud against the Union’s financial interests more effectively. Finally, the Council reached a partial general approach on the proposed Directive establishing a European Investigation Order, which will have as its aim the facilitation of the powers and obligations of judicial authorities in obtaining evidence in crossborder criminal proceedings.

In the margins of the Council, the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Belgium, France and Germany.

Malta’s delegation to the Council meeting was led by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici. He was accompanied by Malta's Permanent Representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana.