MEPs question sufficiency of €25 million budget to cope with migration influx

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecila Malmström has said there was ‘little appetite’ from EU member states for the internal relocation of migrants arriving from Libya into southern states like Malta.

But she said she was sure of a European response if Malta finds itself under huge pressure from a sudden influx of Libyan and other African migrants.

Malmstrom was answering questions by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil during an extraordinary meeting of the civil liberties committee on the impact of migration fluxes.

“The appetite for internal relocation was not huge. But there is a great sense of European solidarity. They agree this is a European issue, and they are willing to assist. There are different way to help member states. Should Malta be under pressure I am sure there will be a European response.”

MEPs from the European left and the European Green Party noted the irony of Europe having forged agreements with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on securing Europe’s borders.

Green MEP Judith Sargentini said it was “cynical to see Europe sending boats and planes to save Europeans, and we call them ‘evacuees’ and we struck a deal a while ago with Libya to keep migrants inside Libya.”

She said it was “cynical” to see that those who were supposed to keep migrants away from Europe were indeed the same people oppressing their own people.

Her sentiment was echoed by Portuguese MEP Rui Tavares, who said the EU had created a degree of dependence on dictators for its “unrealistic migration policy.”

“We cannot rule out a possible mass influx of migrants,” since this will depend on the outcome of the showdown in Libya, said Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

“Member States have to take responsibility in a true spirit of solidarity,” she added, noting that €25 million were available from the EU emergency fund.

MEPs observed that the €25 million in EU emergency fund aid mentioned by Malmström might not be enough to cope with a mass influx of migrants.

"What are those €25 million supposed to cover?, asked Mario Borghezio (EFD), pointing out that in spring and summer it is easier to cross the Mediterranean and more people will probably come to the EU. “Malta and Italy cannot be left to deal with these issues by themselves,” he commented. "An emergency fund of €25 million is peanuts,” added Renate Weber (ALDE, RO).

Malmström replied that should there be a major influx of migrants, “additional funds could be deployed quickly”, by activating special provisions for exceptional circumstances. Frontex Executive Director Ilkka Laitinen said the EU has begun operation Hermes to help the Italian authorities to manage the inflow of migrants from North Africa, in particular Tunisia.

The mission will be extended to address Malta's needs but more money and staff might be needed if the current emergency persists.

Socialist MEP Ana Gomes and rapporteur on Libya said the EU had known of Libya’s chemical weapons but it had done nothing for it to disarm. She also asked what Europe’s priority was in its humanitarian mission to Libya: “Is it to keep migrants out, or should it be a serious humanitarian assistance that will facilitate the return of UNHCR to the country and its borders – wouldn’t this be the best way to assist people and prevent them from coming over instead of deploying Frontex?”