ASYLUM : SOUTHERN COUNTRIES CONTEND FOR EUROPEAN SUPPORT OFFICE.

Faced with strong immigration pressure from Africa and the Middle East, the EU's Southern countries are entering the ranks of those contending for the future European Asylum Support Office. The first to do so is Malta, a small Mediterranean island of 400,000 inhabitants. Its home affairs minister says the country has had to deal with extremely high numbers of immigrants since the start of 2009.

"Our country is the ideal location for the support office," declared Maltese Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, during a debate with his EU counterparts, sponsored by the Czech EU Presidency, on 26 February in Brussels. He has Italy's support. There are other candidates, however. "Our country could support the functioning of this office," said Cypriot Minister Neoklis Sylikiotis, while Greek Minister Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias proposed "that we consider setting up the office in one of the Mediterranean countries facing high pressure".

The European Commission has just proposed the creation of this office in 2010, an idea welcomed by most of the EU states. It will take the form of a regulation agency and will not have decision making authority over applicants' requests. It will organise practical cooperation' between the 27 EU member states in the areas of information, training of officials, aid to countries subject to strong immigration flows and implementation of a common asylum scheme in the EU.

NOT ALL PROBLEMS

Prague hopes to seal an agreement under its EU Presidency, ie before the end of June. "A support...