Labour MEP calls for ‘realistic’ Frontex Plus rules

Labour MEP Miriam Dalli today called for “defined and realistic rules” to regulate the Frontex Plus operation which will substitute the Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue operation.

While welcoming the initiative, Dalli said “if the EU wants to address irregular migration in the southern part of the union, including Malta, the long-term solution must involve all member states.”

The newly elected MEP insisted that just as southern European countries cannot carry the burden of hosting migrants alone, search-and-rescue operations should also involve all member states.

This week, Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano announced that the Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue operation will be replaced by an expanded version of European Union border control agency Frontex.

Dalli added that EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom’s commitment to convince all member states to participate was a positive step, “clear rules on how the initiative will work and on member states’ involvement must be in place.”

She also said that while the rules should be realistic, Frontex Plus should be modelled on the Mare Nostrum operation.