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

Tags:  PREF PHUM PHSA MOPS EWWT SMIG EUN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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
.