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The subject conference was hosted by Central Directorate of Immigration & Border Police, Department of Public Security, Ministry of Interior, Rome, Italy to discuss the phenomenon of external border security and the role of illegal immigration in this phenomenon. Delegations from 72 countries of Asian, European and African continents were invited for this conference to study and analyze thoroughly and jointly the said critical issues and to define common strategy to curb the phenomenon of illegal immigration and its effect on external border security. Besides this, representatives from international organizations like IOM, UNHCR, FRONTEX, ICMPD, UKBA, EuroJust & Europol also delivered lectures/presentations on the subject.
2. Two officers from FIA namely Mr. Muhammad Manzoor, Additional Director General/Immigration & AHS and Mr. Sajid Akram Chaudhry, Deputy Director/ Immigration HQ were nominated to represent FIA and Government of Pakistan in said conference, which was held in Rome, Italy from 15 – 17th April 2009.
3. This two day conference was split into five working sessions and following issues were discussed during these sessions:
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“Fight against illegal immigration and the different position taken origin, transit and destination countries ” |
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“Illegal immigration meant as a transnational phenomenon –Border Security: counteraction and impact of border checks” |
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“police cooperation at preventive ,investigation and suppressive level” |
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“Methods to counteract illegal immigration” |
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“Prevention role played by technical and training assistance in the context of bilateral and multilateral cooperation” |
4. The opening speech of the conference was made by Mr. Rodolfo RONCONI, Director General Immigration & Border Police Department, Ministry of Interior. He told that Italy was transit country for Europe and the majority of illegal migrants were from Albania and Libya and the major reason for illegal migration was “economic difference” and Italy has constituted 15 different missions to evaluate the applications made by illegal migrants for settlement in Italy at different times. He further elaborated the conference was convened to share the experiences and to discuss the problem areas. No final solution was expected out of this conference but the objective was to share best practices and to reach on some mutual understanding at the conclusion of this conference.
5. Mr. Roberto Maroni, the Minister for Interior Italy expressed in his speech that new role of immigration & migration was being discussed by EU & the Mediterranean Region was very sensitive in the next decades to come for illegal migration for better life. The Minister stressed the need for international cooperation because human trafficking is a shame for international community and must be tackled. There is a sharp increase in illegal migration in 2008 and first quarter of 2009. Italy is facing this problem from Libya and Nigeria. Albania was earlier a problem but this problem has vanished after agreements of cooperation with Albanian Government. Italy has more than 30 agreements such as re-admission agreements and bilateral agreements with different governments on the subject. Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta are active in Mediterranean region in EU on illegal migration. Some agreements were made 10/12 years ago, which may not work today due to changed phenomenon and there is an immense need to revise these agreements in accordance with present age requirement/challenges. Illegal immigration is in agenda of next G-8 Conference to be held in end of May 2009.
6. The presentations and papers were shared by the following organizations/ countries during these two days in above mentioned five sessions according to subjects mentioned against each session:
Organization/ Country
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Presentations/
Papers
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Name of Speaker |
Main Points |
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IOM |
Presentation
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Mrs. Carmela Godeau, Deputy Director, Mediterranean Region, Rome , Italy
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Assisted Voluntary Returns & Re-integration (AVRR) Program/Project. Information campaign by IOM in sending (origin) countries to show the dangers of irregular migration.
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UNHCR |
Paper |
Mr. Laurens Jolles, Regional Representative, European Union
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Refugees amongst illegal migrants to be identified and proper care, attention & treatment may be given to genuine refugees under international refugee program.
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Ministry of Interior Italy |
Paper |
Directorate of National Anti Mafia (Prosecution)
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Law is a bridge, the logo of conference.
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Ministry of Justice Italy
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Paper |
Mr. Antonio Laudati, Director General Criminal Justice Department, Ministry of Justice
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Crime can be controlled through fair trial. Human trafficking is dark side of globalization in 3rd millennium. Transnational cooperation is required. Routes are chosen by human traffickers, where the cooperation of Police and Judicial Departments among countries is not so effective.
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Nigeria |
Paper |
Ms Dortha (Representing Mr. Dorothee Gimba, IGP/Nigeria)
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Assistance in capacity building required.
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Malta |
Presentation
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Mr. John Rizzo, Police Captain Malta
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Malta as transit country for African nationals.
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Central Directorate of Prevention Police Italy
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Paper |
Professor Carlo De Stefano, Director/ Central Directorate of Prevention Police Italy
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Terrorists may enter any state under cover of illegal migrants. “Islamic Maghrib” is the new Al Qaeda Group in Europe .
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FRONTEX |
Presentation
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Mr. Klaus Roesler/ Deputy Director
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FRONTEX working on IBMS for EU borders free system. It is coordinator/service provider/ supporter for border security matters on EU level. FRONTEX is a European Agency which provides funds for illegal migration control.
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Libya |
Documentary/ Presentation
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Mr. Faraj Nasil Elghabaili, Sottosegretario del comitato popolare generale di sicurezza
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The “Documentary” revealed the sufferings of illegal migrants in desert causing their deaths. Big deserts but limited resources to control attempts.
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Burkina-Faso |
Paper |
Mr. Noraogo Ousmane Sawadogo, Police Commissioner
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Mosques can be used for public awareness campaigns on human trafficking.
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Germany |
Presentation
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Mr. Eckehart Wache, Director, Federal Police , Germany
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Federal Police is responsible for within 30 k.m. from German borders inside area to control the country security.
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Pakistan |
Presentation
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Mr. Muhammad Manzoor, ADG/Immigration & AHS
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The routes shown in the maps and comparison of data were very much appreciated.
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Central Directorate of Criminal Police Italy
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Paper |
Professor Francesco Cirillo, Director Central Criminal Police and Deputy Director General, Public Security.
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Forced human violations are pedophilia, prostitution and sale of organs. Police cooperation among countries was necessary.
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Greece |
Presentation
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Mr. Vasilios Kousoutis, Brigadier General/ Director of the Aliens Division, Hellenic Police HQ
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Greece is a gateway to Europe and Schengen states for illegal migrants. Greece is transit as well as destination country. Long sea border. Land border with Albania and Turkey .
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Romania |
Paper |
Mr. Ioan Buda, Inspector General of Frontier Police
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Cross border crime results from cooperation among criminals cross border, which needs cooperation among police organizations across border.
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Europol |
Paper |
Mr. Rob Wainwright, Director Europol
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Illegal migration will remain top agenda in Europol. Secured information liaison network in Europol is used for information transfer and sharing. Data base of missions and data sharing is possible.
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Directorate General of Public Security, Italy
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Paper |
Dr. Francesco Gratteri, Director of Central Anti Crime, Directorate General of Public Security
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Ethnic groups are trafficked. Exploitation of trafficked human beings. Cooperation between Italian Police and NGOs has proved very good.
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Spain |
Presentation
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Mr. Jose Enrique Taborda Alvarez, Commissioner General of External Border
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Spain is a country of transit and destination.
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Egypt |
Paper |
Mr. Mohamed Hassan El-Khatib, Major General-Chief of Public Security Department
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Migration is natural phenomenon for better future. Better economic prospects and for some political motives. Campaign in affected areas to create know-how in illegal intending migrants.
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Directorate of Civil Liberties and Immigration, Italy
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Paper |
Professor Mario Morcone, Director Civil Liberties and Immigration Italy
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Solidarity is one of important pillar of EU. Refugee settlement through joint operations between Italy & Libya , Italy & Philistine and Italy & Eritrea .
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ICMPD |
Presentation
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Mr. Zurcher Gottfried, Director General, International Central for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
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The partner does not solve your problem. International cooperation does not mean that one country will solve the problems of other countries.
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UKBA |
Presentation
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Mr. Paul Morgan, Director of Europe & Mediterranean Region, UKBA International Group
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UKBA in 135 countries having 3000 officers worldwide to strengthen border and to control migration.
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Czech Republic |
Presentation
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Mr. Ivan Bilek, Vice President Czech Republic
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The illegal migration has reduced after technical assistance and financial cooperation from donor countries and agencies.
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Euro Just |
Paper |
Ms Sabatinee Stefano, National Representative of
Euro Just in Italy |
Advisory services to Police Authorities and LEAs in any country of EU. A coordination body in EU countries. Specially mentioned the presentation of Pakistan regarding routes, mapping and identification of human traffickers.
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7. The papers/presentations made by Speakers from European countries emphasized, in general, that international cooperation among the governments was immense to curb the phenomenon of illegal migration. The globalization of crime is to be manned through globalization of tasks by Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) of stake holders. Joint operations and joint judiciary were also needed. Control over illegal immigration is possible only through technical and training assessment. The phenomenon of external border security requires constant monitoring by intelligence/investigative bodies of concerned countries in order to guarantee effective security standards. This phenomenon warrants gradual shifting from bilateral cooperation to enhanced forms of multilateral/ multinational cooperation/partnership. The partnership concept stands on “From ? To”. The establishments of Joint Investigation Units (JIUs) among different countries on organized crime and joint operations to fight serious crimes of illegal trafficking were also shared/discussed. The data sharing is also an important aspect which needs consideration by participating countries in the conference. The common grounds for partnership/ cooperation are:
1 Legitimate right of States to control migration.
2 Irregular migration as a common security
challenges, which ask for common strategy.
The requirements for partnership/cooperation are
1 Recognition of common and different interests.
2 Balanced interests.
3 Need to negotiate.
4 Equality of partners.
5 Need for intera - and inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination.
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Whereas the speakers from developed countries stressed upon improving border security management to control flow of illegal immigrants, developing countries (Asia & Africa) highlighted the reasons of illegal migration and the challenges being faced by their governments to control/curb this menace. One of the major reasons given by the speakers was “economic reason”. Economic disparity in between under developed/developing countries and the developed countries leads to push and pull factors in this phenomenon. Assistance in capacity building was mentioned and the idea of joint border patrol was also floated. The need for public awareness campaigns on human trafficking was also discussed. The speakers also expressed that the problems of illegal migrants should also be taken into consideration by developed countries and donor agencies. The forcing factors of illegal immigration, e.g., unemployment, inadequate or lack of food, education and health facility etc. should be redressed in the countries from where illegal immigration originates. An opportunity should be given to these illegal intending migrants to migrate by legal means. This menace of illegal migration will be reduced automatically by taking above mentioned suggestions into consideration by developed countries. It was also reiterated that one should be honest to accept that the difficulty in controlling the menace of illegal migration is because international community is already late to gauge the sensitivity of this problem. The illegal migration will be more challenging in future as the parameters affecting it may worsen in days to come. Sharing of information/real time intelligence can play important role to check this phenomenon. The sharing of Best Practice and assistance for capacity building should be given due importance.
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