Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS2628
2007-08-20 15:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
EU RESPONSE REGARDING 46 AFRICAN MIGRANTS RESCUED
VZCZCXRO4842 PP RUEHTRO DE RUEHBS #2628 2321553 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 201553Z AUG 07 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS RUEHVT/AMEMBASSY VALLETTA RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 002628
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
INL FOR WELZANT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PHSA MOPS EWWT SMIG EUN
SUBJECT: EU RESPONSE REGARDING 46 AFRICAN MIGRANTS RESCUED
AT SEA BY USN
REF: STATE 116313
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 002628
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
INL FOR WELZANT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PHSA MOPS EWWT SMIG EUN
SUBJECT: EU RESPONSE REGARDING 46 AFRICAN MIGRANTS RESCUED
AT SEA BY USN
REF: STATE 116313
1. (SBU) Sandra Platt, Acting Head of Unit for Immigration
and Asylum at the European Commission's Directorate General
for Justice, Freedom, and Security (DG-JLS),told PRM officer
that she would issue a Reseau d'Alerte, or network alert, to
appropriate people within the European Commission, including
FRONTEX, explaining the situation aboard the USS Donald Cook.
If an EU member state such as Malta or Italy decides to
accept the migrants, it may ask the European Commission for
financial assistance, she said. She had not been aware of
the incident and said the Commission had not received any
inquiries from EU member states as of late morning August 20.
Platt expressed doubt that Malta would allow the migrants to
disembark on its territory.
2. (SBU) Platt said the EU is developing a policy for dealing
with such interceptions of migrants at sea, but does not yet
have it in place. She added that DG-JLS has been talking
with EU member states and reviewing international law of the
sea in an effort to adopt a defined common practice in about
a year. She discussed the USG request for advice/assistance
with Jan de Ceuster, Acting Director for the Directorate for
Immigration, Asylum and Borders, and both agreed that issuing
a Reseau d'Alerte would be the best way to discretely inform
all relevant actors within the Commission of the incident.
It is up to each individual country to decide whether to
accept migrants, but the EU stands ready to provide financial
support when needed, she said.
MURRAY
.
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
INL FOR WELZANT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PHSA MOPS EWWT SMIG EUN
SUBJECT: EU RESPONSE REGARDING 46 AFRICAN MIGRANTS RESCUED
AT SEA BY USN
REF: STATE 116313
1. (SBU) Sandra Platt, Acting Head of Unit for Immigration
and Asylum at the European Commission's Directorate General
for Justice, Freedom, and Security (DG-JLS),told PRM officer
that she would issue a Reseau d'Alerte, or network alert, to
appropriate people within the European Commission, including
FRONTEX, explaining the situation aboard the USS Donald Cook.
If an EU member state such as Malta or Italy decides to
accept the migrants, it may ask the European Commission for
financial assistance, she said. She had not been aware of
the incident and said the Commission had not received any
inquiries from EU member states as of late morning August 20.
Platt expressed doubt that Malta would allow the migrants to
disembark on its territory.
2. (SBU) Platt said the EU is developing a policy for dealing
with such interceptions of migrants at sea, but does not yet
have it in place. She added that DG-JLS has been talking
with EU member states and reviewing international law of the
sea in an effort to adopt a defined common practice in about
a year. She discussed the USG request for advice/assistance
with Jan de Ceuster, Acting Director for the Directorate for
Immigration, Asylum and Borders, and both agreed that issuing
a Reseau d'Alerte would be the best way to discretely inform
all relevant actors within the Commission of the incident.
It is up to each individual country to decide whether to
accept migrants, but the EU stands ready to provide financial
support when needed, she said.
MURRAY
.