Malta is shouldering a heavier burden than it can carry, the European Parliament heard yesterday, although the country's detention centres came in for some harsh criticism.
The Parliament held an urgent debate on illegal immigration in Malta at the request of its Civil Liberties Committee, whose members visited the island to view the situation for themselves last month.
EU Energy Commissioner Andris Pielbags, reading a statement by the European Commission dealing with refugee camps in Malta, said the Commission would continue to assist Malta. But it expected the Maltese authorities to "do their homework" and implement European directives.
Contrary to claims by members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Malta had not been abandoned by the Commission, which had provided the country with reasonable support, he said.
It would take time, however, to amend the Dublin II regulation - the need for which was stressed by most MEPs yesterday.
Through such an amendment, it would no longer be obligatory for applications by illegal immigrants to be processed by the country where the immigrants first land.
Detention centres, he said, did not solve the problem of illegal migration. The most important thing was to work with the countries from where the migrants hail.
The Commission's statement, which followed a visit to Malta's detention centres a few days ago by the Civil Liberties Committee, noted that the problems faced by Malta affected the EU and needed a global approach.
The Commission said it would shortly be proposing to the Council to take a decision on cooperation among member states. Through this cooperation, expert teams would be set up to assist counties such as Malta in asylum processing.
The Commission was monitoring the enforcement of the directive setting minimum standards for asylum seekers, particularly in Malta, and a report on this would be presented to the Parliament.
The debate yesterday included the contribution of the five Maltese MEPs.
Simon Busuttil, a member of the committee, said immigrants had pointed out that their destination was continental Europe, not Malta. MEPs should show solidarity with immigrants and with the Maltese authorities by welcoming in their countries asylum seekers who were currently in Malta.
He asked what had become of the joint patrols initiative debated last year.
Louis Grech said the EU was not treating this tragic reality with the concreteness it deserved. Malta was shouldering a burden much heavier than it could carry. The EU should put its money where its mouth is and delegate the necessary funds, he said.
David Casa, another committee member, noted that enormous efforts were made by the government to treat the immigrants fairly. But Malta could not perform miracles.
Financial aid was lacking and more practical solutions were needed. The EU, he said, should help absorb the influx of immigrants, which is expected to double this year.
Joseph Muscat stressed the need for rules to be changed to mitigate the intolerable pressure of illegal migration in EU border countries, particularly the smaller ones.
John Attard Montalto said Malta had been abandoned during this very difficult period. Malta needed financial aid and solidarity and European countries should help the island by absorbing some of its refugees.
The Parliament was also addressed by other members of the committee. Its vice president Stefano Zappalà, an Italian MEP, said the situation in Malta was extreme - the number of illegal immigrants there, was the equivalent of 300,000 in France or the UK.
He called on the Council of Home Affairs Ministers to hold an extraordinary meeting in Malta with the Civil Liberties Committee and representatives of the Maltese authorities to decide on urgent measures.
Martine Roure described the situation as "terrible" with immigrants living in an "inhumane and degrading" situation, "locked up in cages" without legal or medical assistance.
Although she appreciated the fact that the Maltese authorities did not hide the real situation, the conditions of the immigrants were in violation of human rights and the European directives.
Jean Lambert asked how far could expert teams get in Malta and what other resources were going to be needed to help the Maltese in the long-term.
Giusto Catania described the centres in Malta as "absolutely terrifying" with conditions "unacceptable for a civilised country". Pregnant women were held for months without access to running water, he said.
Helene Flautre said the visit demonstrated that locking people up had become the normal way of dealing with migratory flows.
Kyriacos Triantaphyllides said it was scandalous that Europe, which was hysterical about terrorism, held asylum seekers in such mediaeval conditions.
Malta's geographical position and the fact that it was overwhelmed, he said, did not justify the situation.
A vote on a resolution for Malta to be treated as a transitory state for illegal immigrants is to be taken on Thursday.
This report was compiled with the cooperation of the Malta office at the European Parliament.