Editorial

When the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum was first mooted as one of the priorities of the French Presidency, The Times welcomed it as an outstanding opportunity to ensure the incorporation into the pact of a binding commitment to some form of intra-EU burden-sharing mechanism.

The Times was clear that "while such a mechanism will be difficult, though not impossible to negotiate, it is vital in an area of over-riding national interest that Malta's dire predicament is fully recognised in a meaningful and practical way if the cry of "solidarity" is not simply to remain so much empty EU rhetoric.

In its present form, the Immigration Pact is barely worth the paper it is written on. Unless there are changes to it which give Malta some hope of equitable sharing of its burden with others in the EU, the government should refuse to be a party to it.

The Times, therefore, thoroughly supports the line which Malta took in Brussels last week that it will not accept a deal on a new Immigration Pact without a clear commitment to a burden-sharing mechanism. Although France is pushing for a final deal to be reached this week during a meeting of EU Justice Ministers, Malta has insisted that the final text must include a commitment that countries on the EU's border that receive a disproportionate number of asylum-seekers will be supported by other states in sharing that burden. The government has said that if burden-sharing is not included as part of the pact it is not prepared to agree to the deal.

It is absolutely right to adopt this tough stance. It has the whole-hearted support of every citizen in this country in doing so. There has been a steady influx of illegal immigrants to this country over the last seven years. About 11,500 have arrived here in that time - the equivalent in proportional terms to 1.7 million arriving in France or 1.6 million in Italy. This year alone Malta has received about 2,400 arrivals (an increase on last year of about 40 per cent), the equivalent of 360,000 in France or 336,000 in Italy, a country which has also borne the brunt of this influx - but to a proportionally smaller extent than Malta.

Living in Malta today are some 5,500 asylum-seekers or those who have been given protected status. About 2,300 of these are in detention. While the numbers as a proportion of our population are not yet excessive - as measured by some European standards - in a country as small as this, which has never before experienced a foreign influx of this magnitude or the challenges and, yes, strains of multi-culturalism, the impact is substantial.

There can be no argument that Malta is bearing a disproportionate burden and should be helped by other countries to take some of the strain. While a mechanism which shared out, say, 1,000 a year from Malta would have minimal impact on the larger countries, for Malta it would represent relief of a major kind.

The government must remain resolute on this issue of such great national importance. If necessary, the Prime Minister should refuse to sign the pact when it reaches heads of state and of government level. On this issue, Malta must not be brow-beaten. If necessary, it must have the courage to stand alone.