Malta, illegal immigration in the EP

A resolution approved by the European Parliament and which was supported by all of Malta's five MEPs, including the three members of PES, is a landmark for Malta in its efforts to overcome the illegal immigration problem. It also shows what we can do together when we are united.

The European People's Party (EPP) proposed a number of amendments to the original draft resolution. The European Commission also made a declaration on the subject and a Euro-Parliamentary delegation visited Malta the week before submitting a report to Parliament.

The resolution recognises the difficulties Malta faces on the problem of illegal immigration and expresses the Parliament's solidarity with the Maltese population, with the people requesting refugee status, the Maltese authorities and the forces of law and order dealing with these migrants.

While calling on the Maltese government to improve the conditions of migrants in detention centres, it urges member states to show solidarity by accepting migrants from small countries such as Malta suffering from a huge influx of migrants on their territory.

Reference is also made to the provision of technical assistance and that use is made of existing European funds to finance them. It calls for a meeting of the Justice and Internal Affairs Council to be held in Malta to discuss immigration so that ministers obtain a first-hand experience of the situation.

The European Commission is urged to create an emergency fund as quickly as possible to meet humanitarian crises in the member states. Above all, it calls for a change in the so-called Dublin II Directive on illegal immigration which, among other things, requires that asylum requests should be treated by the country which receives such immigrants.

This aspect of the directive is judged to place a considerable strain on the receiving countries particularly those to the south and east of the EU.

The resolution calls for the establishment of a proper EU refugee policy based on the opening of legal immigration channels, the respect of human rights and burden sharing among the member states.