The bigger picture

The last time I was in Libya was around one and a half years ago. It was a very brief 24-hour visit, which I made together with my fellow Labour members of the European Parliament. Even so, it was enough time to remind me of the enchanting quality of this fascinating country and of its great economic potential, which is so relevant to Malta.

Although, regrettably, I have not managed to visit Libya since late 2005, I have not lost touch. During the Libya visit, we were met at Sirte by a delegation led by Suleiman Shahoumi, the influential speaker of the General People's Congress. Since then we have bumped into each other at various conferences in the Gulf and Middle East.

Meeting him is always a pleasure. Back on that first occasion when we met, I had the good fortune to have a long conversation with him on our way from the airport, as he asked me to join him in his car. He is a charismatic man and I liked him immediately. Then, as always, I found him to be pragmatic, interested in the workings of European and Maltese politics, and in the possibilities of cooperation between Europe and his country.

Such an experience has not been an isolated or exceptional one for me. During that Libya visit, we also met the Minister for Commerce. We discussed oil, visas, security, fishing zones, and Maltese investment.

If that were not enough, we had the opportunity to savour for ourselves the outstanding potential for the development of tourism. The Bab Africa Corinthia, where we stayed, is fabulous. On the morning after our arrival, we were picked up and I saw one of the splendid Roman ruins. We did not have as much time as I would have wished, but just enough to whet my appetite for the fabulous archaeological wonders in Libya.

Libya's great potential, and the many opportunities there are for Maltese ventures in Libya that would contribute to the realisation of that potential, need not be pointed out by me. I should think we are all aware of them. From time to time, however, they do need underlining, lest we lose sight of them.

I think we are going through a period when we ought to make the effort to remember them. Over the past two weeks or so, Libya has been mainly mentioned in the Maltese media in connection with its role in the fight against illegal immigration. Of course, this is an important subject. Of course, this is an issue where Malta, together with the other European member states, does need to dialogue with Libya. But to have a public discussion in Malta that defines Libya solely in these terms does not appear to be either sensible or realistic to me.

It is not realistic because Europe cannot expect Libya to serve as Europe's policeman. Particularly when Libya, despite the relatively small size of its population, needs to patrol the second largest country in North Africa, and when it is already hosting an immigrant population that some estimate to be around 25 per cent of the Libyan population.

Of course, there is an issue concerning international obligations. But the sensible approach here, as suggested by the Malta Labour Party, which fully supports the stand the government has taken, would be to let such dialogue be pursued at a European level. This approach would be consistent with the Maltese view that dealing with illegal immigration should be a matter falling under the competence of the EU as a whole.

If we keep the bigger picture in mind we would be in a better position to cooperate with Libya generally, even on matters to do with immigration. I was impressed by what Tony Blair has managed to achieve on his recent visit there, his last to Africa as Prime Minister.

His meeting with President Muammar Gaddafi saw him emerge with a deal that was very favourable to the British arms industry (not that I look favourably on the arms trade, anywhere). British Petroleum (BP) secured a deal that enables it to return to Libya after over 30 years of enforced absence from that country. The deal is strategically important for BP as it makes it less dependent on access to Russian supplies.

Apart from these commercial deals, however, there was a political payoff for Mr Blair. It was reported that his Libya visit was also connected to his efforts to keep his commitment to African development and climate change on the agenda.

There is no doubt that Libya's influence in Africa is important for any agenda aiming at African development, which is a goal Europe must pursue if the reasons for illegal immigration are to be tackled at source.

Mr Blair's ability to keep his eye on the bigger picture is something many of us can learn from. Whether we are taking decisions or commenting on them.

Dr Attard Montalto is a Labour member of the European Parliament.