Updated: Malta strikes EU burden-sharing deal

Pauline Barbara

Sep 27th 2008, 23:13

So yesterday we were reading that the burden sharing is on a voluntary basis and that this was a massive coupe and this was the best we could have expected as the EU countries would never accept burden sharing on an obligatory basis.

Now a day later we are being led to believe that these same EU countries have now accepted to take on a number of refugees and that they will be obliged to do so.

Though we will still have a problem as most (as has been said by other posters) are illegal immigrants and aren't given a refugee status, at least we will be guaranteed a number of these immigrants (refugees) will be moved on to mainland Europe - if it is true that the government continued to insist on burden sharing to be on an obligatory and not a voluntary basis and got its way, then I will be the first to hold my hand up and say well done, but only if its true and only when I see this pact working in practice, until then I will reserve my judgement.

Joseph Duca

Sep 27th 2008, 22:15

"Interior ministers are close to an agreement on an EU Blue Card, aiming to rival the American Green Card in attracting computer engineers, nurses and other much-needed, highly-skilled foreign workers to Europe."
Wow!! If I`m not mistaken the pro immigrration movements in Malta used to argue that these people live in trees!!!

Stephen Zammit

Sep 27th 2008, 21:27

@ Malcolm Seychel

The EU DOES NOT HAVE A COMMON IMMIGRATION POLICY.

Any agreement cannot be other then voluntary unless the Treaty provides for it. It is as simple as that. Having said that, this agreement is a first for the EU, on a subject which since its inception proved to be difficult to reach consensus. There is the committement of all 27 countries, which will be passed on to the Commission to implement by mid October.

RE FRONTEX. It needs to be strengthened, and not stop the patrols! Its patrols during this summer kept a number of illegal immigrants from entering our shores. Its budget financed 85% of AFM expenses to monitor our Search and Rescue Region. BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH. FRONTEX NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED AND NOT ABOLISHED!

Let us see the whole picture. With or without FRONTEX Malta still has the legal obligation to undergo its patrols. The question is (a) do we need more patrol boats from other EU contries? (b) do we need them to finance the operations?

Both answers are YES!!!

deb bugeja

Sep 27th 2008, 19:07

A better fool would have done a much better deal than this

philip pace

Sep 27th 2008, 09:22

If I am not mistaken, the whole process hangs on the word 'VOLUNTARY'.

This means that I might help you if I feel like or not help you at all.

Politicians are known to play around with words.

On a political field one acheives little as the stakes are high due to hidden deals and other million things.

Here we need action.

So what about having a strong hand and send the boat back from it where it came from (giving them enough fuel, food and water) as a message to those who profit from this can understand the Malta means business?

Of course somebody would not agree with me.

It was alarming to read recently that illegal immigrants landed in Malta until some Policemen saw them.

The question re that night.

Was the radar working? Was this boat detected by radar? Who was manning the radar?

If the Govt thinks that it had made a good deal, it is something that has be tested in time and we don't know how much time it would take for it to be implemented?

And until then, what?

Never put the cart before the donkey!

malcolm seychell

Sep 27th 2008, 09:06

I think the minister is playing with words, after the negative comments by all the public on the voluntary burden sharing.

But we want the truth first. If it is voluntary, then it is good for nothing, and it will be worse then frontex

John Spiteri

Sep 25th 2008, 20:29

let's wait and see and hope that it is somewhat more effective than frontex. i'm still sceptical for a start what i have heard so far this is a 'voluntary' mechanism; - furthermore we still dont know (well i still don't) whether this applies to refugees only which form an insignificant number of illegals. let's hope also this doesn't actually encourage even more immigrants to come over...

James Sultana

Sep 25th 2008, 19:39

And the spin-doctors keep playing the trumpet ....
And "the media" keeps playing with words.....
And the minister keeps building up hopes....

DID ANYONE READ THE TRUE DETAILS BEFORE CELEBRATING ????? It will be a "ferha bla temma" !!!

Hopefully this new "deal" is explained properly to those ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS who will think that by coming to Malta will avail themselved of this much publicised deal ....... becuase we might end up getting even more of them when in actual facts the chances of one of them to "benefit" from this deal is much much less than than the odds for guessing the correct super 5 numbers !!!

This is because an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT in Malta is an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT in the EU ... and the deal will only qualify ASYLUM SEEKERS , in other words REFUGEES. Not all that come here give their real particulars, some of them claim to be asylum seekers ... VERY FEW QUALIFY FOR THAT STATUS because proper and good details and information must be given for that status. If you apply and don`t get accepted you get sent back ... so better not apply and live in Marsa!

Manuel Mifsud

Sep 25th 2008, 17:20

@ P. Debono

Calm down, don't take it so personal. Be sure, I don't bear any grudge against you.

You might as well check certain facts before you jot down your comment. There are international (not EU) agreements concerning illegal migrants and asylum seekers. Malta has to abide by these agreements whether we like it or not. Moreover illegal immigrants were reaching our shores much before we joined the EU. The same applies to other countries like Cyprus.



I agree with you that the situation warrants urgent attention but that doesn't mean that one has to panic or lose control of the situation.

Denis Catania

Sep 25th 2008, 16:15

When will be able to send the illegals to mainland Europe? So they can start a better life and the Maltese can get their quality of life back. All I want for Christmas is our country back.

P Debono

Sep 25th 2008, 16:04

@ Manuel Mifsud

Get your facts straight please. If Malta weren't a member of the EU, we would never have signed the Dublin Convention and thus we could do whatever we want with the illegal immigrants. It is not a coincidence that the illegals have only started coming to our shores once we joined the EU. They're not as stupid as you might think.

And before you label me an anti-EU doom-monger, I voted IVA in the referendum and still do not regret my decision. It's just that this is an emergency situation which should be tackled with much more urgency.

P Debono

Sep 25th 2008, 15:50

I still am sceptical about this burden-sharing mechanism... It will only encourage a larger influx of illegal immigrants to our shores and who's to say the countries will accept the agreement in practice and take on hundreds of illegals to their shores? Also, what if the illegals themselves wouldn't want to go to mainland Europe because they are comfortable emptying the pockets of the honest Maltese taxpayer as it is?

martin portelli

Sep 25th 2008, 15:34

@ K.Xuereb

True , they all are when mercifully they reach safe haven but do note that the text refers specifically to ' beneficiaries of international protection' with regards to relocation burden sharing. The text also calls agaimst "generalised" regularisations of illegal migrants. I do agree with you however, that how this will be interpreted and implimented remains to be seen.

E Gatt

Sep 25th 2008, 15:31

According to the BBC website :

"The pact, which has political rather than legal force, urges member states not to offer mass amnesties to illegal immigrants, as done in the past by Spain and Italy, and to ensure that foreigners without papers are removed.

But with Europe's population rapidly ageing, it also calls for better conditions for highly-skilled migrants.

Interior ministers are close to an agreement on an EU Blue Card, aiming to rival the American Green Card in attracting computer engineers, nurses and other much-needed, highly-skilled foreign workers to Europe.

There is still disagreement about which qualifications are to be included and how much the migrants should earn. But what is clear is that they will not be able to move across Europe as easily as originally planned and that is bound to raise doubts about how useful the Blue Card will turn out to be. "

K Xuereb

Sep 25th 2008, 14:45

@ Martin Portelli

They are all asylum seekers when they land here so the deal should cover even those (which are the vast majority) who do not qualify for refugee status or humanitarian protection as fleeing from a country which is truly unstable.

Having said that, we'll have to wait and see how this deal will work out.

Methinks that the immigrant stays in Malta should be shorter but there might be a bigger 'transit traffic' as the migrants will find it easier to reach continental Europe. It will manage the flow but not stem the tide.

Unfortunately, the problem remains South of us.

Manuel Mifsud

Sep 25th 2008, 14:35

The prophets of doom and gloom have been thinking hard, as usual, to come out with something against this deal. Whatever we get from the EU is always welcome, let alone a burden-sharing deal. Let's not forget that if we were not members of the EU, the immigrants would have still reached our Islands either on their own or by being saved from drowning. Or is someone suggesting that we should let them drown!

A big thank you to all those of all political beliefs who pull the same rope towards the benefit of Malta and the Maltese.

martin portelli

Sep 25th 2008, 14:30

@ I.M.Dingli

My thoughts exactly

None the less the text only mentions asylum seekers. According to European voice.com (www.europeanvoice.com) this is what we really got.

"The Maltese government has demanded, and won, stronger wording on support to be given to member states who face particular problems handling asylum-seekers. The final version of the pact says that "for those member states which are faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their national asylum systems" there should be, "on a voluntary and co-ordinated basis, better relocation of beneficiaries of international protection from such member states to others".

Can't say it's that reassuring .

Charles Sammut

Sep 25th 2008, 14:17

Let's not count the chickens before the hens have even laid the eggs.

I. M. Dingli

Sep 25th 2008, 14:11

I suggest we all wait for the details before blowing our horns.

vincent a galea

Sep 25th 2008, 13:53

PHEW !!!!!!! WHAT A SIGH OF RELIEF.....!!!!!!

E Gatt

Sep 25th 2008, 13:49

Let us imagine that I am an African (I will not tell you which country I am from – I am not stupid! ) trying to get to mainland Europe illegally.

Up to this year I would have tried my best to get to Italian or Spanish territory and avoid Malta if given the choice.

Now that this burden sharing mechanism has apparently been agreed to, it now pays me to get to Malta as I will then be transferred to another EU state (what I wanted in the first place).

Before planning my illegal landing, I would be obliged if the EU could answer the following:
• How long will the burden-sharing process take from Safi to mainland Europe?
• What chance is there that I end up in Malta? 1 in a 100, 1000? Have any quotas been established?
• Do I get a final say to choose my final destination?

Please inform me soon as many in my village are interested in your new offer.

n. saliba

Sep 25th 2008, 13:48

let's hope this is not another white elephant on the part of the EU!!!!!!!!!!

J Farrugia

Sep 25th 2008, 13:42

It remains to be seen what are the fruits of this PACT. IF the tower of babel (EU) is going to keep its word by taking practical steps in solving this tragedy. The issue here is that Malta cannot take more illegal immigrants from the libyan side. Malta cannot absorb all of Africa. And further more, Malta cannot fund all these africans and their offspring here in Malta. We have our poor amongst us. There are at least 30,000 who do not pay the surcharge on w and e, and there are others who although do not protest and do not sound their humble trumpets, they are still there trying to make a modest living. The Government has to help THESE CITIZENS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

Robert Micallef

Sep 25th 2008, 13:31

By this way the immigrants will come a lot more to Malta as this will open their way to Europe more easily. I do believe that we should send them back to Gaddafi!

J. Buhagiar

Sep 25th 2008, 13:19

Wake Up!

This is no honorable way out. Since when does Economic Aid resolve the social problems caused by Immigrants? When are our Ministers going to stop falling into the pitfalls of the inexperienced?

All ministers have to do is to look at how the immigrants issue evolved in other countries.

1) The majority of EU Citizens of All Countries agree that we should not be racists.
2) Similarly the majority agree that permits for immigrants should be dependent & geared to proving to being a decent citizen. If within a Specified Period Of Time they don't measure up, Government’s duty is to send them back to where they came from.

Minister should decide the Specified Period. But ministers have no right to burden all citizens with a host of social problems that the emerging generation / children will need to face.

Is the EU an Economic Union or has it become the almighty power where Ministers and/or Countries are expected to take decisions that are not in fact supported by the majority of citizens in any Country.

Alternatively Make a Referendum if the EU still respects the opinion of its citizens!

Edwin Formosa

Sep 25th 2008, 13:12

Well done Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Permanent Representative Richard Cachia Caruana. Where are those who said that ahna makku ??

Joanne Micallef

Sep 25th 2008, 13:10

FINALLY our Nation can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Let us hope that the creation will only take a few months and that our country will start benefiting of this new burden sharing mechanism by next year.

Well done to all those politicians who have made this deal possible.

R Adami

Sep 25th 2008, 13:01

THAT is the way to solve a problem. Not by making lots of populous statements but by negotiating where it matters. And this is why there is a chasm between the MLP and the PN. The PN have acknowledged the problem and done something about it and the best the MLP could do was to warn the Govt and 'decide' that we had a 'national crisis'.

So whilst Joseph Muscat was preparing his report Simon Busuttil was using his influence in the right quarters and working with the Govt to get concrete results.

If the best Joseph Muscat can do in the midst of a 'national crisis' (his words not mine) is prepare a report about VAT in the finance sector then why did he not have any time to use his influence to make a difference where it matters - within the EU? If I found myself in the middle of a crisis I know where I would divert all my efforts.

C Damato

Sep 25th 2008, 12:59

Good...

Next is to tackle the source, i.e. LIBYA, as otherwise, this burden-sharing may only trigger more crossings to our shores from Africa...

Jean-Pierre Aquilina

Sep 25th 2008, 12:54

I commend the efforts of all those involved, particularly Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Permanent Representative Richard Cachia Caruana, to strike the burden-sharing deal with other EU Members States. This is a step in the right direction to help alleviate the problems we face due to the large influx of illegal immigrants.

l Galea

Sep 25th 2008, 12:42

Itching to get the details

Joseph Cauchi

Sep 25th 2008, 12:40

This is good news, at last!

Does it mean that the word "voluntary" from the burden sharing clause has been dropped?

Sandro Pace

Sep 25th 2008, 12:37

Nothing short of a systematic obligatory significant outflow of migrants would be acceptable. Lets hope it is not just the usual solidarity and funds talks.

M. Tabone

Sep 25th 2008, 12:33

Well done Malta.

Pierre Agius

Sep 25th 2008, 12:31

Excellent! Well done to all! Thanks for defending our interestes.