Calling for European aid

Malta calls for European aid in dealing with illegal immigration. Elitsa Vucheva writes today for EUObserver:

The Maltese foreign affairs minister Michael Frendo has called on the EU for assistance in dealing with illegal immigration on the island. The minister has presented a 17-point document to explain in which fields Malta needs the most help in addressing illegal immigration, and why it has become an issue for the island, according to Maltese Di-Ve news. "Malta is the smallest and most densely populated country in the European Union and the second most densely populated country in the world", Mr Frendo has said, adding that "the 3,000 illegal immigrants that landed in Malta since 2002, are equivalent to 420,000 landing in Italy over the same short period of time". This is why the minister has asked for EU help in, for example, the repatriation of people who have not been granted refugee status, and the settlement of those who have...