Illegal immigration claims 700 lives in Mediterranean - Tonio Borg

Malta has made an impassioned plea for assistance with the illegal immigration problem, amid claims that 700 immigrants perished in the Mediterranean last summer alone.

In a rare show of consensus, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and his Labour counterpart Gavin Gulia spoke with one voice at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), held at the Westin Dragonara.

While the problem of illegal immigration was not particular to Malta, it was uniquely serious in one of the most densely populated countries in the world, Dr Borg told representatives from 47 states.

Since 2002, around 7,000 illegal immigrants had landed in Malta, equivalent to 1.5 million reaching Germany.

Still, despite the difficulties, Malta has been just and generous in its response, evidenced by its high refugee acceptance rate. But Malta cannot ignore the strain of illegal immigration on the employment, health, social and cultural sectors.

Malta's inexperience in areas like multi-culturalism meant it needed more time, the minister said. Europe also had to take into account the humanitarian disaster developing in the Mediterranean.

It was therefore high time for Europe to identify a common solution and for all countries to adopt a holistic approach and co-ordinate their efforts.

Readmission agreements should be drawn up and border guards should be trained to deal specifically with the problem, Dr Borg said. EU patrols would also do wonders to avoid the scourge of illegal immigration.

Though integration was essential, Dr Borg said that immigrants should also make sure they fit in with mutual tolerance.

Dr Gulia warned that high immigrant numbers were pushing the limits of tolerance. Populist concerns about multiculturalism and xenophobic-induced fears were on the rise and challenging the conservative and deeply Christian identity of Malta.

Making reference to the immigration statistics, Dr Gulia said it was a curious coincidence that more illegal immigrants had come to Malta since the Refugee Act was drawn up in 2000.

Besides, the Dublin Convention effectively meant that refugees were stuck in limbo the minute they arrive in Malta, which has to deal exclusively with the problem.

"So far, Malta has received shared concerns rather than support. The phenomenon is crying out for a reappraisal," he told those present.

US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro also honed in on the issue of illegal immigration at the conference, which comes to a close today.