Border controls

Italy, Malta, Libya to discuss illegal migration in Malta in light of plans for EU patrols in the Mediterranean, from Reuters:

The interior ministers of Libya, Italy and Malta will meet in Valletta on Sept. 6 to discuss ways of discouraging illegal migration to Europe, Maltese Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said on Wednesday. Borg was speaking at the end of a two-day meeting between Maltese and Italian officials on the details of sea patrols off the Libyan coast intended to stop African illegal migrants from trying to cross the Mediterranean to Malta and Italy.

Borg said he hoped the patrols, organised with the help of Frontex, the EU border agency, would start by the end of September, but said that Libya had not yet agreed to take part. Greece and Germany have said they are willing to contribute to the patrols. Borg said the Sept. 6 talks would be the first time he, Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato and Libyan Public Order Minister Salah Rajab Al-Masmari met specifically to discuss illegal migration. EU Internal Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini may also join the meeting, he said...