European Parliament
President.
Question No 8 by María Izquierdo Rojo 
Subject: Rising immigration by means of 'pateras' (small boats) in eastern and western Andalusia, on Europe's southern frontier
This past summer has seen a major increase in illegal immigration by means of small boats along the EU's southern frontier. The exiguous existing services are simply unable to deal with the changing routes taken by the vessels, and are in no logistical position to cope with the enormous scale on which this problem is developing.
Given the fact that Commissioner Vitorino will shortly be presenting reports (Argo and Ulises) and balance-sheets on this issue, and given the urgent need for the new measures to include the Granada (Spain) coastline, where the situation has worsened with the extreme sharpening of containment measures in the Tarifa area, what measures does the Council envisage to improve this situation?

