Updated: Government, MLP argue on Immigration Pact
The government said this evening that a Labour Party statement which criticised the EU Immigration Pact showed how it had not understood the crucial importance of this pact for Malta. Nor did it know how the EU functioned.
The MLP in its statement accused the government of having ‘capitulated’ since the burden-sharing mechanism, which the pact proposed, was voluntary and not obligatory on member states.
The government said that this was the first time that a burden-sharing mechanism was being mentioned in EU documents.
This was a voluntary mechanism because it was being introduced among free countries within the EU. It was a process of relocation which had become part of the agenda of the EU and was backed by 27 member states who recognised the need for it.
The government insisted that this mechanism would be applied to most of the immigrants who arrived in Malta since the number of those being granted international protection was increasing. This year, in excess of 60 percent of migrants were expected to be granted protection
Furthermore, those migrants who did not deserve protection would be repatriated to their country of original through funds and assistance provided by the EU.
The government said the timeframes for the burden-sharing mechanism would be set once the Immigration Pact was given the final seal of approval by the European Council.
“This government did not surrender anything, but it managed to change the scenario on which the Immigration Pact is based. It managed to include in the text as part of the European agenda, the creation of a programme through which Member States would able to take from Malta persons who enjoy protection status.”
This, the government said, was a historic agreement, the importance of which would not be diminished by the MLP.
The government also pointed out that the Immigration Pact says the following on burden-sharing:
"For those Member States which are faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their national asylum systems, due in particular to their geographical or demographic situation, solidarity shall also aim to promote, on a voluntary and coordinated basis, better reallocation of beneficiaries of international protection from such Member States to others, while ensuring that asylum systems are not abused. In accordance with those principles, the Commission, in consultation with the UNHCR where appropriate, will facilitate such voluntary and coordinated reallocation. Specific funding under existing EU financial instruments should be provided for this reallocation, in accordance with budgetary procedure."
The Labour Party in its statement said the Immigration Pact was only a very small step forward, and this was not enough for Malta. It also contrasted sharply with government promises to stand firm in the talks.
The MLP said it was dissatisfied by the Pact because:
The burden-sharing mechanism was voluntary and not binding on member states to participate;
The mechanism would apply only for recognised refugees – when most of the migrants who arrived in Malta were not refugees;
There were no timeframes for the new mechanism to come into force and no resources had been allocated to it.
The party said that in such a national crisis, the government could have achieved better results, especially when it knew it was backed by the MLP.
It said Dr Gonzi should reconsider his position on the Pact.
The Nationalist Party in a statement welcomed the Immigration Pact, saying that countries on the periphery of the EU would no longer have to cope with the immigration problem on their own.
It said a firm stand taken by the government had ensured the introduction in the Pact of a burden-sharing mechanism, a first in the EU.
It also referred to the MLP statement and urged the party not to try to fan racist sentiments and not to play with the people’s feelings. It also observed that the MLP had not made a single concrete proposal on how Malta should tackle illegal immigration.
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N. Bonello
Apr 14th 2011, 10:30
'Furthermore, those migrants who did not deserve protection would be repatriated to their country of original through funds and assistance provided by the EU'.
Dream on.
Karl Muscat
Sep 27th 2008, 21:42
J Muscat is showing either that he is trying to play on people's sentiments or he does not know how the EU works after 4 and a half years as MEP.
Without any law in place (which has to be established by the Treaty's) any decision by the Council of Ministers can never be mandatory. It can only be voluntary.
Secondly, having no repatriation agreements with African countries, it stands without saying that most of those immigrants who remain in Malta are granted international protection, hence refugees. Most of the others are sent back or detained. So YES this Pact is extremely beneficial for us to re-settle refugees elsewhere.
Thirdly, it is up to the Commission to set timeframes for implementation and not the Council of Ministers.... J Muscat is mission on EU Law big time!!!!
Fourthly, national crises and big results. This was the best to be reached in current circumstances. Had we have Lisbon Treaty in place, yes I would agree with MLP since it would have legislated for the first time on immigration.... J. Muscat should know better...
Finally, its the MLP who should reconsider an earthquake on how to deal with EU affairs!!!!
Michael Gatt
Sep 27th 2008, 17:45
How do they have the face to be proud of what they accieved. Its a complete shame on the PN and who thinks that we dont deseve better
Michael Gatt
Sep 27th 2008, 14:20
The MLP offered its complete support for this problem and the Gonzi PN refused it. Thats all there is to say about this saga.
G.Hoare
Sep 27th 2008, 13:42
I read and read over and over again to the comments ,first im a very proud maltese i lived in the uk and i can tell the difference ,and also had illegal immigrants , and you could see them all over the place ,alot of the british wished not to have there either , malta is a small island and this is not a matter of of being racist is it BLACK or WHITE if they are in Malta and overstayed their welcome they are still illegal immigrant some comes in by boats some comes in by car pretening themselfs as tourists so it is a problem for us maltese which ever way you look at it . what i dont understand how some maltese try and blame it on Dr L Gonzi deep in your heart each and one of you do you think that he liks to face this problem , I DONT THINK SO , even if it was the M.L.P in government it would be the same situation , if we want to show the E.U lets do what Ireland did and get hand in hand and pull one rope.
Albert Gauci Cunningham
Sep 27th 2008, 10:02
V.Fenech--Unlike what you are saying I am not trying to shift the attention anywhere else on the contrary I have written countless times on The Times criticising the Government and Opposition for not doing anything so please Mr.Fenech before talking do your HW well!! Yes this agreement is based on a "voluntary" basis and if thats what we all understand with the word than the agreement is hardly a start let alone a solution, though on TVM news Minister CMB seems to have given a completely different version of the meaning of "volontary" ( to be honest I was far from convinced)......................But if mr.Fenech feels all comfy criticising this government he should feel the same about the Leader of Opposition who after 4 full years in the EP (with a fat paycheque) where he had the POWER to do something either within the Parliament or within the Socialist movement did absolutely nothing.
It is easy to criticise (and i will continue criticising the agreement unless the word volontary is what CMB really said) but at least come up with one single, bloody solution. Now, Mr.Fenech has Mr.Muscat given one??? No!!! Unbelievable isn't it after 21 years in the wilderness!!!
Raymond Sammut
Sep 27th 2008, 01:08
@ Mark Rizzo
There is no point in juggling figures the way you keep doing. Your claim of 600 leaving the island every year is unfounded. Your sentence "And the other 400+...not so legally but they leave Malta nevertheless." only confirms that the figure is shoddy.
More importantly, you are confirming that there are no official figures being produced by the NSO. The NSO has the obligation to provide figures to the public regarding issues of national importance such as illegal immigration.
The fact that no official figures are available, both for inflows and outflows of illegal migrants, only proves that the Maltese government is being grossly incompetent and dishonest in its management of the illegal immigration problem. The Maltese government has no credibility on this issue, and for this reason cannot expect to receive any obligatory assistance or commitment from European countries.
Mark Rizzo
Sep 26th 2008, 15:22
1) "2,000 undocumented arrivals annually". The Government figures from the past few years have shown an average of more or less 2000 per year. Search all relevant docs.
2) "600 resettlements to third countries". This figure is not quoted officially in the press. If you were to go to ask those in the know you would be given a figure of at least this amount. About 200 per year go legally to the US. And the other 400+...not so legally but they leave Malta nevertheless. The discrepancy in the figures of 5000 and 8400 is because I purposely gave a conservative estimate of those leaving Malta.
3) "5000 migrants currently in Malta". Again figures of 4,500 and 5,500 have been quoted by those in the know all over the press recently. The figure of 11,000 is of total arrivals since 2001, excluding those who have left.
V Fenech
Sep 26th 2008, 12:27
@ Gauchi Cunningham
His words are unbelievable; he's trying to make us accept such faulty agreement while shifting his aim onto Joseph Muscat. The proposal of burden sharing has long been approved by the MEP's level. It needed the final approval of the Council of Ministers in which the majority of the other members showed that they are not pleased to take us any burden.
The online survey of this website is a vivid reflection of how the Maltese are feeling at the moment. The pm has let us down. We believed that he could go further to improve the situation in Malta. As usual, the pm did get nothing!!!
M Camenzuli
Sep 26th 2008, 11:29
Joseph Muscat knows that immigration is not common EU policy
so there's NO WAY any of the 26 other EU states would have accepted
compulsory reallocation.
Muscat knows that NO COUNTRY would ever accept reallocation of ILLEGAL immigrants -
but he says so in his release for consumption in Malta.
He also conveniently forgot to mention the part of the Pact about
the budgetary allocation for this measure.
Muscat Peter
Sep 26th 2008, 10:19
We voted for a strong pair of hands and got a weak pair of legs - and I am being polite...Shame on you Gonzi.
Capitulation is your best talent! Never again!
Michael Cutajar
Sep 26th 2008, 08:44
Not sure how much more of this bollocks I can listen to
The agreement would have been sound if it was on obligatory and not voluntary basis.This morning I heard a foreign affairs ministry employee off-the-record saying that the deal was a flaw and a complete disaster. And he is absolutely right. This is what I managed to glean from what I heard...Government was instructed to go hard in the negotiations or else go home. and indeed Government failed. Now the Gonzi devotees from the bunker were instructed to shoot down Joseph Muscat`s message and promote this deal as an achievement for our country. All nationalist party apparatchiks had to toe this line.they were instructed as well to label the Labour Party as xenophobic and playing the race card. I hate to disappoint them but they are whistling in the wind
My advice to Government is this: try switching on your brains and thinking strategically about the future of the country before initiating these sort of publicity stunts
Abel Abela
Sep 26th 2008, 08:34
So that's it - we should be happy that ' a burden-sharing mechanism is being mentioned in EU documents.' Aha, it's voluntary we are told, because it's being introduced among free countries within the EU. Thank you so very much.
WHAT A PATHETIC COP-OUT
Corinne Vella
Sep 26th 2008, 08:32
Malcolm Seychell: As secretary general of Azzjoni Nazzjonali you should declare your interest when campaigning for your party.
The treasurer of Imperium Europa should do the same thing.
Peter Camilleri
Sep 26th 2008, 08:30
Please stop commenting on this immigration issue. According to our enlightened DCG this issue is dead and no one cares about it anymore. Stop proving her wrong.
l Galea
Sep 26th 2008, 08:22
@Joseph Ellis
Nobody came in such overwhelming numbers as the Africans.
"I wonder whether all this is fuss is because we now come across black faces"
No Mr Ellis, we want all illegal immigrants including those who overstay their visa to be expelled, including Serbs, Ukranians and Albanians.
Remember when Malta was still sovereign and could itself decide what to do and turned back two shiploads of Albanians with some 1,500 Albanians?
"Nobody spoke of burden-sharing when Albanians and other East Europeans were invading European countries."
Do you expect us, the tiniest of places, the smallest country with the largest population per sq km, to take illegal immigrants from other eu countries when the other eu countries did their best to destabilize the East European countries?
"Burden-sharing may well be a liability in the future. In any case, it is hard to argue that the situation in Malta is untenable."
May be? Hard to argue? Are you living in Malta Mr Ellis, or on the moon?
What is not a burden is expelling all illegal immigrants forthwith without any exception.
Paul Muscat
Sep 26th 2008, 07:47
I've heard that MIA airport is already jammed with illegal immigrants queing to leave voluntary. As they say in Maltese, our EU partners and friends " ghandhom qalbhom perzuta" .
I am sure that because of the negotiation skills shown : now we see them, then we wan't!
Ben grech
Sep 26th 2008, 07:36
@John Schembri. What in the world is xenophobic about asking for a real burden sharing mechanism? The current pact lauded by the government leaves us in exactly the same situation we were in before. The pact is only applicable to genuine refugees, which number approximately 20-30 of the arrivals each year. The government should be ashamed for trumpeting such a deal, and you should be ashamed for actually thinking it ll do us any good.
J. Mifsud
Sep 26th 2008, 07:28
The EU is again taking Malta for a ride. The sad news is that our Government is all happy about it.
Dr Gonzi, please read between the lines. Are we better off? The people are weary of this hocus-pocus from the EU.
We want real action in favour of the Maltese for once!!!! We want real action from our government.
We need a government where Malta comes first and foremost. No more hanky-panky. More Nationalism. If we do not wake up now we'll regret it later. The EU must act in our favour now. We are fed up with your sad tactics.
Charmaine Chetcuti
Sep 26th 2008, 07:19
What if none of the countries volunteered to accept immigrants? No one can force them since the burden sharing is on voluntary basis and then what happens? We'll remain with all the immigrants here and back to square one!! Do not sign the pact if you have Malta at heart. This situation is making a lot of Maltese angry.
D.Galea
Sep 26th 2008, 06:56
Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than
we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw, & We should have seen this coming, we truly deserve it all.
P Debono
Sep 26th 2008, 06:32
I disagree with this burden-sharing mechanism. This will encourage a much larger influx of illegals to our shores and what's more, the burden-sharing is VOLUNTARY. Who in his right mind would want to take a bunch of illegals?
I agree with the MLP that it is not enough, but it's a shame that they're back to criticising everything that the government does without giving out a single concrete proposal.
Criss Camilleri
Sep 26th 2008, 05:08
The way I see this 'agreement' is like this: WOULD WE PAY OUR TAXES IF IT WASN'T COMPULSORY?' Not on anyone's nelly! Voluntary my......
Ivan Attard
Sep 26th 2008, 00:33
CAPITULATION of the first degree.
In Gonzi, this small nation, has a weak pair of hands on the rudder and hopelessly soft and naive negotiators at the EU table. If this pact is signed as it stands (voluntary mechanism and all) it is a final confirmation that disguised 'morals' and irrelevant 'christian values' rule this administration.
Coming from Joseph Muscat, his accusations reek of political opportunism and a case of too little action and much talk (late in coming).
Our political class is targetted like an exocet missile to destroy our island state with a vengeance.
It is now the time for the rightists and the patriots to show them that enough is enough! Now there shall be no more bullshit and talk of racists. The gates have been unbolted by the puerile and irresponsible actions of the ones who should have been strong in their defence of our island state.
Smile that insipid smile again now Gonzi. You can smirk at the helplessness of the people whom you have been elected to safeguard but have treated like worthless fodder in the name of your 'righteousness' . Have you no shame?
Chris Borg
Sep 25th 2008, 23:58
@ M Camenzuli. So sending immigrants to developed EU countries, where they can have better opportunities, is racist and sending them back to developing countries is not. What kind of logic is this?
This has NOTHING to do with racism. Joseph Muscat would be racist if he said something like "the Maltese race is superior to other races". He didn't say that. All he's trying to do is to keep immigration in managable levels. Other left-wing Parties, e.g. the New Zealand Labour Party, also emphasis a lot on managing immigration in order to, among other reasons, protect local workers. If our European brothers are o anti-racist why don't they welcome themselves some of "our" immigrants?
It's high time that the moderate Left starts tackling issues which are being raised by the "common" people and which are making the Right and the far-Right stronger by the day.
Denis Catania
Sep 25th 2008, 23:56
When will the first boat full leave? I think the government should brief the Maltese before anything is signed. We should be told how many of these illegals are eligible to be sent back with this pact. An exact number not an estimate. Anyone who comes with no papers from his homeland and is not considered a refugee, MUST be kept in detention until such papers are received.
Joseph Ellis
Sep 25th 2008, 23:49
It seems that the major political party are vying among themselves in appealing to the anti-immigration brigade.
Mark Rizzo is absolutely right : immigrants are usually net economic contributors to an economy. It is safe to say that were it not for migration, our economy would be paralyzed for lack of labour and the cost of living would be much higher. Migration is as old as mankind. Usually, the Maltese migrated but immigration is not a new phenomenon either. Just look at our surnames as so many of clear foreign origin (including my own). So what's the big deal ?
I wonder whether all this is fuss is because we now come across black faces. When Arabs, Serbs, Ukranians and Albanians came to our shores, nobody whimpered at all. It is only now that Africans are arriving that there is such a fuss.
Nobody spoke of burden-sharing when Albanians and other East Europeans were invading European countries. Burden-sharing may well be a liability in the future. In any case, it is hard to argue that the situation in Malta is untenable.
Raymond Sammut
Sep 25th 2008, 23:44
@ Mark Rizzo
How do you source the three figures that you are posting:
1) 2,000 undocumented arrivals annually
2) 600 resettlements to third countries
3) 5000 migrants currently in Malta
Even if your figures were accurately sourced, considering that illegal immigration started to reach Malta in 2002, there still should have been a net of 8,400 illegal immigrants on Malta at the time you were writing your post. Why are you lying with your figures, or did you count wrongly?
Which "economic theory" are you referring to? Keynesian theory? Friedman theory? At whose expense are your theories producing the "net" contribution that you are claiming?
Finally, in regard to your statement:
- Malta is a Christian country with a history and present of emigration
It should then be clear to you that Malta is a Christian country with a history of emigration, yes, definitely, and hence Malta is justifiably and deeply unhappy to have a "present" which is corrupted with illegal immigration. Why, therefore, did you make your statement?
l Galea
Sep 25th 2008, 23:43
@Mark Rizzo
The facts as presented by the lawyers acting for UNHCR contradict what you say.
Furthermore, we do NOT need immigration when we do not even have enough work for Maltese citizens apart from the social consequences as evidence by the trouble caused by alien cultures in the UK, France, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands etc.
You are also contradicted on the number of illegal immigrants by the Government and the UNHRC lawyers who have stated that no illegal immigrants are being repatriated apart from those few sent back to Ethiopia some time ago, so we have more than 11,000 illegal immigrants roaming around OUR country.
The sectors you mentioned are only employing illegal immigrants for cheap labour, nothing else. As regards theories, they are a pie in the sky propagated by do-gooders.
Please stop playing the Christian card. Nobody cares about it.
@Guze Xerri
Agree with you 100%
@J. Schembri
If we were not in the eu then there would not be any attraction for illegal immigrants to come here. This is evidenced by the illegal immigrants first coming in 2002 and their vast increase after joining the eu.
Charles Sammut
Sep 25th 2008, 23:18
"It also referred to the MLP statement and urged the party not to try to fan racist sentiments and not to play with the people’s feelings."
You can tell when someone has lost an argument or failed; up comes the "racist card".
Not only is the agreement on a VOLUNTARY basis, but is limited to those immigrants who are genuine refugees. These amount to between 1% and 2% of our total influx.
In Maltese we say "Il-bahnan taqlghalu ghajnu, jifrah."
Joseph E Briffa
Sep 25th 2008, 23:17
We would have gone back to square one. At least t now there is the possibility, even the probability, of getting help; without such a pact, we would have had to face the situation by ourselves. Diplomacy is give and take, and 'scratch my back and I scratch yours', especially between members of a club. If Malta had put its foot down and used its power of veto, do you think this would not have had repercussions on Malta? Do you think we would have been more popular with the other member states? Do you think they would not have waited for an opportunity to pay us back? Let's not forget that we are a mere 400 000 people out of a total of some 500 million and yet we have 1 vote; the same as Germany with 80m, and Uk, Italy, France with 60m each. This is democracy but we must not abuse democracy. Isn't it presumptuous to suggest that we should dictate matters? When one needs help one asks for it, not demands it. Imagine the likes of Mintoff negotiating such a pact; he would definitely have ingratiated himself with the member states and got what he wanted!
F Spiteri
Sep 25th 2008, 23:17
Oh, my .... !!!!!! So many points to comment about after reading this article.
Point 1: PN urged MLP "not to try to fan racist sentiments".
Excuse me, but, who is being racist by assuring that the pact is obligatory and not just voluntary?????
Point 2: PN "observed that the MLP had not made a single concrete proposal"
Halloooooo?? Did Gonzi read the points mentioned by the MLP:
The burden-sharing mechanism must be binding on member states to participate; applied for ALL migrants not only recognised refugees, timeframes for coming into force??? Eh? Do these ring a bell, Lawrence???
Well, well, well!!!! Parole, parole, parole .... (once again)!
Time will tell.
In the meantime, I am no fortune-teller but on this one I can tell for sure: Whenever MLP will put pressure on the government to put this "historic agreement" into force thus not becoming just HISTORY, once again, PN will only urge "the party not to try to fan racist sentiments and not to play with the people’s feelings." Wait and see!!!!!!!!!!
David Seychell
Sep 25th 2008, 23:14
Ok, let's say that there MIGHT be some EU countries who MAY volunteer in taking a few of our irregular immigrants; couldn't they volunteer before? Was there something preventing them from doing that?
Now that the Minister's Frontex 'buzzieqa' blew in his face, this sounds like another ploy in sight of the next MEP election.
Paul Muscat
Sep 25th 2008, 23:11
Congratulations for the government! Voluntary sharing of our immigrants's problem by "our friends"; willy nilly acceptance of "our friends" legislation and acceptance by force,- and by us alone,- the full impact of illegal immigrants ! Great negotiations indeed!
Joseph E Briffa
Sep 25th 2008, 22:52
Why is everybody getting hot under the collar? Let's look at things calmly and try and think abit before rushing to print. This Pact is a positive one for Malta as it's a germ of the idea of getting the big countries of the EU to share the burden of illegal immigrantion . Insisting on making this mandatory on the member states would have been ideal but in life the ideal is not always achievable. The next best thing is the introduction of the concept of burden-sharing on a voluntary basis which is what has been achieved. The number of immigrants involved is a drop in the ocean for the likes of Sweded, Finland which are huge countries with a very sparse population. If such countries volunteer to take ac ouple of hundreds every year our problem would be practically solved. Even countries like Germany, Spain, France, the UK are capable of absorbing a handful - say 50 - a year, would be a great help for us. What was the alternative to accepting a voluntary approach? ..not signing, granted. And wouldn't this have meant not having a Pact at all?
STEPHEN FARRUGIA
Sep 25th 2008, 22:46
The Nationalist majority wing are against immigration which is only illegal and this pact is just unacceptable.
Tomorrow we send the first group of 1000 immigrants to the EU office in Valletta. If they don't take them, close up and go back to mainland Europe.
Pauline Barbara
Sep 25th 2008, 22:45
Who wants to wager that despite the PN's fanfare that they have pulled off an amazing coup, come next summer and the summer after that, thousands of illegal immigrants will keep on arriving on this island with many of them staying on for one reason or another.
I hope I'm proven wrong and that other EU countries will agree to take on the majority of the (according to PN) 60% illegal immigrants who are given refugee status - somehow I doubt it.
PN is accusing MLP of not coming up with concrete proposals to counteract this problem, dear Gonzi you are in government and you think this Pact is a solution, when its not. What is concrete about it ? it sounds more like quicksand to me.
MLP said it would have stood firm on mandatory burden sharing and proper resources that sounds concrete enough to me.
PN 's view of knowing how EU works and MLP doesn't equates to PN agreeing to what is to the detriment of this country and if PN know so much about how the EU works, pray tell us how they didn't foresee the EU stumbling blocks re: MDD .
Kenneth Galea
Sep 25th 2008, 22:30
I urge the PN administration to stop once and for all to play the racial card. The MLP is NOT racist but it is addressing a serious national problem. Once again DR Gonzi gave in to the EU which is not willing to address the problem. We seem to be going on and on in circles and nothing is achieved. Pacts are signed, reports are drawn and the crossings from Libya continue. Deportations continue to be an all time low. Dr Gonzi and Carm your time is truly over and the citizens of Malta won't take any nonsense from you when you start playing the racial card. You are the ones who are betraying the Maltese citizens and not the MLP!!!
Antoine Vella (Balzan)
Sep 25th 2008, 22:28
Guze Xerri
"Put pressure on Freemason Gaddafi through the SMOM and the Jesuit general Adolfo Nicolas to put a stop to this illegal invasion from his country's shoreline, unless this whole thing is a SMOM/Jesuit plan all along, which means Malta of the Maltese people is as good as gone."
Full points for originality. I had never heard that one before.
J. Schembri
Sep 25th 2008, 22:25
@ Pauline Barbara : so you seem to be implying that Joseph has got the guts to tackle this problem once and for all.He did not even have them to write his report in OUR language , let alone tell Gaddafi to do what needs to be done ie: stop this illegality from Libya.
I for one, cannot link this problem with the EU.
My worry is that we still have a party which is being lead by the whimsical feelings of the public through surveys and opinion polls. Parties are there to be our opinion makers , if Labour wants to be credible it should not be a populist party. As M Camenzuli rightly said : "Joseph is riding the racist bandwagon" probably he is fishing for Josie's and Lowell's supporters.
Tony Cassar
Sep 25th 2008, 22:23
I don't know why most seem to be missing the wood for the tree here...
Before this Pact, the European Union would not even consider having a common policy about illegal immigration. It left every member state to its own devices... no funding, no assistance, no relocation of asylum seekers.
This Pact turns that upside down and is essentially an acknowledgement by all 27 countries that illegal immigration is a problem that should be dealt with by the whole block and not by the countries that are bearing the brunt of this.
Had Malta tried to impose anything else on the other members in this pact, the outcome would have been pretty easy to predict... other states would have voted against it and we would have been left with... wait for it.... NOTHING!
And I am sure that Joseph Muscat with all his wisdom, vast experience and bargaining skills would have coerced the rest of the 26 members into signing a pact which had compulsory burden-sharing mechanisms in it...
Go on Joey... tell it to the Marines (or better, tell us what you would have been able to get for us)
Pauline Barbara
Sep 25th 2008, 22:16
@ M Camenzuli
There is one bandwagon which you are obviously stuck too like glue and its painted blue.
Joseph Muscat is saying that the EU should reallocate illegal immigrants to other countries i.e. burden sharing but on a mandatory level and not voluntary, as no other EU country would voluntarily take on any illegal immigrants off of us. So you think what your Party in government has acchieved is going to change anything?? If so please tell us how thanks to this pact, will we be seeing any improvement???
'The Immigration is not EU common policy and so the Immigration Pact has to be voluntary'?? So is asking for resources to handle this situation also out of the question??? Are we in the EU to say yes to everything even what is to the detriment of this country???
re: Immigrants having the right to vote, this wasn't relating to Illegal Immigrants. I was an Immigrant in the UK before we were in the EU, and 'cause I was living there and paying taxes I had a right to vote - what's wrong with that???
Time to get off your bandwagon and start asking some serious questions.
Chris Tanti
Sep 25th 2008, 22:11
I am shocked that the European Union has once again totally ignored our needs. We joined the EU to help and be helped but I am not seeing any help coming on the issue that most affects us. This voluntary agreement is frankly a farce. Unless you don't set a mechanism where every country is OBLIGED to take in a part of our immigrants, then it's just a waste of paper and travel expenses from our taxes.
This country is sinking fast. Sad day indeed.
c.zarb
Sep 25th 2008, 22:08
With all due respect but what's racist in asking for a compulsory burden sharing system? I mean we have been told that the immigrants does not want to come here and would prefer to go elsewhere. Therefore a compulsory burden sharing system would help both Immigrants and the Maltese.
I voted PN during last elections but I have to confess that Joseph Muscat is right. This system will not help Malta for the simple reason that for a strange reason (quite strange since we are lead to believe that celebrating diversity is quite a great thing to do and that immigrants are a valuable resource) very few European countries had shown any real commitment in helping us out. I am afraid that the PN has just lost a vote.
J. Schembri
Sep 25th 2008, 22:05
@ Malcholm Seychel
"I believe Joseph should take the people in the streets since he represents almost half the population. I am sure thousands of nationlists will attend as well. "
Hold your horses ! One can hardly conclude that Joseph represents half of the MLP supporters let alone representing half of the electorate.
By taking "the people TO the streets" what will he exactly achieve ? As far as I know all he said was that the government should do "something" about this storm in a tea cup. His "something" is zilch.
Has Joseph now turned the MLP into the xenophobic right wing AN ?
This immigration pact is a step forward , it would not stop emigrants coming to Malta but it can help them find another country,
Just a reminder; if there was no EU there would not have been MEP Joseph and no Immigration Pact , and we would still be having boat loads of these poor people coming to Malta with us having nowhere to send them.
That was what Joseph's New Labour wanted us to vote for in the referendum!
Maria Pace
Sep 25th 2008, 22:03
Not agreeing with this pact doesn't make you a racist. Period.
As usual, the Par idejn Sodi are only able to just nod and say 'Yes Sir'...
Malcolm Seychell
Sep 25th 2008, 21:58
First we had Norman Lowell as racist
Then we had ANR as racist
After we had AN as Racist
Now we have Joseph Muscat As racist
Tomorrow we might even here that Cassola is a racist too.
The problem is that the government cannot stand someone who speaks the truth about this problem.
Joseph Muscat can do more. He can organize a national protest. The protest should not be against the immigrants, but against the Gonzi administration, so that he doesnt sign this pact with the EU.
This pact is a suicide for Malta and our children
Frank Bonnici
Sep 25th 2008, 21:56
Snubbed again! This is really sad.
Joseph Cauchi
Sep 25th 2008, 21:53
Please, let's stop these labellings of RACISM and UN-CHRISTIAN.
These two adjectives should not be included in in our vocabulary, they are IRRELEVANT.
Let's be MORE SERIOUS, please, and substantiate our arguments with intelligence ! ! !
PATRIOTIC.
.
M. Spteri
Sep 25th 2008, 21:50
I am coming to the conclusion that our dear Lawrence does not really want to part from our brothers that are coming to our shores without a passport. Either that or we don’t have the power to stamp our tiny feet every now and then in the EU club and stand our ground.
M Camenzuli
Sep 25th 2008, 21:48
@ Pauline Barbara
Yes, Joseph Muscat appears to be jumping onto the racist bandwagon in Malta.
How else could he issue a release telling the EU to reallocate to other countries our illegal immigrants? No country takes illegals from any other country - illegals are sent back as is already being done.
Joseph Muscat feigns ignorance of the fact that the Immigration Pact has to be voluntary for the simple fact that immigration is not EU common policy. It has to be adopted unanimously meaning that any country has a veto.
That is why Joseph Muscat has boarded the racist bandwagon in Malta.
Elsewhere, ie in the European Parliament, he boarded the Socialist bandwagon and voted in favour of immigrants having the right to vote.
You see, he just cannot resist jumping on any passing bandwagon!
Pauline Barbara
Sep 25th 2008, 21:48
@ Karl Abela and for everyones information
This pact is being decided at Ministerial level and not Mep level.
If Joseph Muscat & MLP had been in government they would not have voted in favour of this pact because it doesn't include mandatory burden sharing nor does it include any mention of providing us with the resorces to handle this situation.
Joseph Muscat could do nothing more then to urge the government to insist on the abovementioned clauses in this pact when dealing with the EU, but PN have failed this country yet again (unless hopefully they vote against it, as I don't believe a vote has been taken as yet)
If Joseph Muscat gets elected as PM in the next election he still can't do anything as this Pact can not be changed for the next 10 years.
Gonzi forget about the 'par idejn sodi' get yourself a backbone and a pair of cajones, it might be the EU but each country looks out for their best interest first and foremost so start doing the same, 'cause that is what the country expects even the thousands that didn't vote for you.
E.Zammit
Sep 25th 2008, 21:47
From the comments posted on here,there seems quite a few who believe they are the be all and end all of this unwarranted immigration problem. I am hoping for at least a few of them to step foward and contest the forthcoming MEP elections ! Only then I would judge their worth of their wisdom in providing us with SOLUITIONS. Wake up my dear friends and let's all start thinking as proud Maltese subjects, cometh now and long overdue the time for one and all to remove the BLUE, RED or may it be GREEN for that matter...........Blindfold of party colours ! Here... now... we are faced with a challange to which we as MALTESE and as MALTESE TA' QALB TAJBA,UMLI u HIENJA !!!!!!! must rally together to help these poor souls.... whilst makig sure our pain and burden is kept as minimal as is possible. LEAVE POLITICS OUT.
Malcolm Seychell
Sep 25th 2008, 21:36
@ A Mangion
Can you notice that is is voluntary!!!.
Who will be that idiot to take illegal immigrants in his country, when nobody wants them.
The government has showed us that he is puppet of the EU.
I hope that the Maltese will not forget this day, and vote accordingly inthe MEP.
apgrech
Sep 25th 2008, 21:35
It's on a voluntary basis folkd.
Expect to see many letters coming from all the EU countries asking Malta to send them 200 illegals to help Malta.
Joseph Muscat suggested that Malta should veto the deal. NP accused him of playing children's game. I suspect that the Malta team playing the chickening game. Should have taken Mintoff to speak for Malta. He's good at it :))
Guze Xerri
Sep 25th 2008, 21:33
a lot can be done that is not being done to solve this crisis,
like: Opting out of the 1951 Geneva refugee treaty signed in 1971.
Repatriating all non refugees as soon as possible.
Making sure no illegal invader boat or dinghy comes within 14 N.miles of the maltese islands while giving them humanitarian assistance at sea including new boats to move on and away from our homeland.
Put pressure on Freemason Gaddafi through the SMOM and the Jesuit general Adolfo Nicolas to put a stop to this illegal invasion from his country's shoreline, unless this whole thing is a SMOM/Jesuit plan all along, which means Malta of the Maltese people is as good as gone.
J. Schembri
Sep 25th 2008, 21:33
@ Malcholm Seychel
"I believe Joseph should take the people in the streets since he represents almost half the population. I am sure thousands of nationlists will attend as well. "
Hold your horses ! One can hardly conclude that Joseph represents half of the MLP supporters let alone representing half of the electorate.
By taking "the people TO the streets" what will he exactly achieve ? As far as I know all he said was that the government should do "something" about this storm in a tea cup. His "something" is zilch.
Has Joseph now turned the MLP into the xenophobic right wing AN ?
This immigration pact is a step forward , it would not stop emigrants coming to Malta but it can help them find another country,
Just a reminder; if there was no EU there would not have been MEP Joseph and no Immigration Pact , and we would still be having boat loads of these poor people coming to Malta with us having nowhere to send them.
That was what Joseph's New Labour wanted us to vote for in the referendum!
So dear Malcolm forget about the PR for Joseph.
Mark Rizzo
Sep 25th 2008, 21:30
One may also consider the fact that irregular migrants leaving Libya do not aim for Malta but for Italian islands. Around 2,000 arrive in Malta annually whilst 30,000 arrive in the Italian islands.
If Malta were to have a widescale burden sharing agreement with the EU, the migrants would begin to see Malta as a good destination and begin to aim for Malta. With a burden sharing deal we could end up with many many more irregular migrants arriving. Malta would still have a lot of work to do...maybe more.
Clint E Taliana
Sep 25th 2008, 21:24
So shall we start getting the order 'menu' from all our EU friends and tell us how many ILLEGAL immigrants they are able to take on board?
You can call JM a racist - that shows how despaired the Govt is in defending its failures. Well done again.
Pauline Barbara
Sep 25th 2008, 21:23
@ M. Camenzuli
You said that Joseph Muscat is boarding the 'racist bandwagon' - do you just repeat verbatim what is said by PN, without even thinking about it?. Pray do tell us what 'racist bandwagon' are we talking about? If Joseph Muscat was pandering to the racists he wouldn't have said, 'We need to be tough with the EU not with illegal immigrants' - Joseph Muscat and MLP are representing almost half of our population and yes we expect him to speak up on such issues, what do you expect the MLP to do just applaud PN whatever they do be it good or bad???
Are you happy with what the Party you have voted into government has acchieved in respect to the Immigration Pact?? Do you honestly believe that if the government votes in favour of this pact the likes of France, Germany, Spain or UK will be voluntarily taking refugees off our hands?? Also don't forget that very few illegal immigrants are given refugee status, so the great number of illegal immigrants arriving on our island will be staying here despite of this pact.
K Mallia
Sep 25th 2008, 21:22
It seems we are too afraid to voice our opinion in the EU. This is no issue of racism, it is an issue of practicality. It is not the country of origin but the numbers and the conditions in which these poor fellows live that makes the need for a better life. Government should start with services offered here but then stand up once and for all and make sure that in the EU we get to to be treated as equal members. Voluntary is not enough when the problem is in one's front yard.
Seems a far cry from the message some months ago that 'iva flimkien kollox possibli'. Seems that when in Brussels government jumps to the other side.
Hubert Zammit
Sep 25th 2008, 21:15
Altough I always voted PN as my political leanings are more to the centre-right, I am VERY disappointed about how the Government tackling this problem. As Malcolm Seychell said, this type of handling of the situation is typical of left-wing parties and I really was not expecting it from a PN government. What a difference from how the Berlusconi Government is handling the immigration problem with the help of the Lega Nord!!!!
This situation needs to be tackled FIRMLY and AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, before it is too late. The thing is that everyone makes fun of Norman Lowell or the Azzjoni Nazzjonali, but the time will come when everyone will say "kemm kellhom ragun".......obviously when it is TOO LATE!
Mark Rizzo
Sep 25th 2008, 21:14
@ I Galea with respect
NO I PROMISE I AM NOT JOKING
THESE ARE FACTS-
- Of the 2000 undocumented migrants who arrive in Malta annually, about 600 manage to resettle in other countries
- The 5000 migrants currently in Malta make up just 1.1% of the population
- Many important industries rely heavily on migrant labour; the construction boom, catering and hotels, factories, waste and recycling
- All economic theory and experience shows that labout immigration is a net contributor to the national economy
- Malta is a Christian country with a history and present of emigration
Pauline Barbara
Sep 25th 2008, 21:00
Some are asking what did MLP Meps do?, however what did PN Meps do with regards to this issue? MLP Meps have voiced their disaproval of Frontex as it wasn't delivering, maybe PN Meps did the same, I don't know. The fact is the change in EU law which Malta needs inorder to improve the situation is taken at ministerial level and therefore correct me if I'm wrong but what could the Meps (of both sides) do - they can try to persuade Meps of eg Uk or France to tell their respective Minsters to insist on mandatory burden sharing, but can we hand on heart honestly see that happening??
However the minister had a more powerful bargaining tool and that is to vote no and this new pact would not have gone through without a yes vote from all 27 countries. What would Joseph Muscat have done, not vote in favour unless we get what we want (resources and mandatory burden sharing) so he did say what he would do and please remember its PN who are in government so they are the only ones who can do what is best for our country, instead they are celebrating.
Joe Vella
Sep 25th 2008, 20:54
While admitting that I am no expert of EU rules, I would like to point out that this decision was taken at the Council of Ministers, and neither Joseph Muscat, nor the other Maltese MEP nor the European Parliament had a say in this decision.
It was only the Maltese Government, i.e. Minister Mifsud Bonnici and the Prime Minister who were in a position to obtain the best possible deal for Malta.
Judging by what they managed to achieve......they have failed Malta miserably.
A Mangion
Sep 25th 2008, 20:53
A couple of comments are confirming that their only scope in writing in these comments is to criticise the government on EVERY initiative taken. They should be ashamed. Instead of helping our country to do better and offer ideas on how we should improve, they are just happy moaning. Here we have an excellent example: They are stating that only a handful of immigrants can be transferred abroad while the real facts are that more than 60% of those that arrived this year fall in this category!!
Better read and understand the facts before moaning dear mlp elves!! A clear proof that MLP position on EU has not changed. They do not like to read positive news. And than they say Malta l-ewwel u Qabel Kollox!!! X'Ironija!!
malcolm seychell
Sep 25th 2008, 20:51
I was not surprised about the failure of Dr Mifsud Bonnici. I was surprised to hear on TVM Simon Busttil telling us that this is history for Malta!!!!
Shame on all of you new PN
They already told Joseph to keep his mouth shut on this new pact and not create racism.
For the PN everyone who dares speak the truth is labelled as racist.
I believe Joseph should take the people in the streets since he represents almost half the population. I am sure thousands of nationlists will attend as well.
l Galea
Sep 25th 2008, 20:49
This was nothing except capitulation when you, Mr pair of strong hands had the backing of the vast majority of the population from all the political spectrum.
Mr pair of string hands resign and let others more suited to do the job.
We do not want any illegal immigrants to be allowed to remain here and we want them ALL out of Malta.
You will get our answers at all the coming election.
@Mark Rizzo
You must be joking. Whatever you and your ilk say the vast majority of the Maltese population do not want them here.
E Mifsud
Sep 25th 2008, 20:41
Who could be satisfied with this so called agreement? Voluntary what? Where is our voluntary basis in accepting the ever increasing numbers of illegal immigrants?
The EU is treating us like idiots, again!!!! This is simply unacceptable and should have been rejected altogether.
Guze Xerri
Sep 25th 2008, 20:16
This pact is nothing but hot air.
Solving the illegal immigration to Malta issue should have been job one years ago. it was top priority then and it is top priority now.
Stop wasting precious time and act effectively Dr. Gonzi, your concerned and worried countrymen are not going to be silenced and placated by being called "lacking in christian values" or the old chestnut, labeled " racist ".
These large multitudes of Maltese people are the true "Nationalists" Dr. Gonzi and they come in all political stripes.
this issue is a life or death situation for our nation.
I Abela
Sep 25th 2008, 20:14
Well done PN....An excellent deal indeed. Those are the 'Par Idejn Sodi' which Gonzi was talking about. And also a very Well Done for the voluntary repatriation scheme, you have saved Malta from another 16 illegal immigrants. Giving them 5000 EUROS each to leave Malta was an excellent idea too. Thankyou Dr. Gonzi. Now save the rest of the Maltese population. RESIGN and CALL AN ELECTION.
Malcolm Seychell
Sep 25th 2008, 20:07
I am watching TVM news and the PN are happy about this new pact!!!!
This is a flop even more then Frontex.
The PN should be ashamed of itself, and should change also its name.
Only Communists party could do worse then the actual government on this issue.
True nationalists should wake up and protest about their current leadership.
Even AD and MLP who are left wing parties are taking this problem more seriously.
Shame on you PN
D.Galea
Sep 25th 2008, 20:06
'Par idejn sodi' indeed!! Never there was such confirmation that the winds are now most favorable for the likes of N.Lowell. See if you even have the guts to yourselves statesmen as well!!! What a sad joke.
Mark Rizzo
Sep 25th 2008, 20:02
It is unreasonable to expect that other European States would agree to take each and every migrant who lands in Malta. Further considerations:
- Of the 2000 undocumented migrants who arrive in Malta annually, about 600 manage to resettle in other countries
- The 5000 migrants currently in Malta make up just 1.1% of the population
- Many important industries rely heavily on migrant labour; the construction boom, catering and hotels, factories, waste and recycling
All in all the arrival of migrants from any part of the world to Malta is a net gain to Malta as they are generally young skilled workers who boost national income. This is not to mention our moral obligations to shelter those needing humanitarian protection, as a Christian and-ex (and also current) emigrant nation.
Michael Montebello
Sep 25th 2008, 20:01
At least it is one step in the right direction. Why didn't Joseph Muscat try to convince his colleagues to sign up to a COMPULSORY system when he was in Brussels ?
Obviously Muscat was an expert in avoiding controversial issues such as immigration which could only loose him votes from an impatient public who is overwhelmed by the problem.
Karl Abela
Sep 25th 2008, 19:48
FOR EVERYONE'S INFORMATION...
In Brussels there are 3 MLP MEP's and 2 PN MEP's, one of whom was Dr. Muscat.
What has he done about it? NIL
What we will he do about it when he is eventually elected to PM? NIL
At least, I would have expected an effort from his behalf on this issue. It would have boosted our trust in him. But no, Dr Muscat doesn't need us voters, he thinks he already won the general election.....well thats what MLP thinks before every election anyway!!
Tony Caruana
Sep 25th 2008, 19:36
Dr Gonzi has betrayed us yet again !
The burden-sharing mechanism was voluntary and not binding on member states to participate !!!!!
Unbelievable !!
A.Gauci Cunningham
Sep 25th 2008, 19:36
@A.Polidano----Ok spare your enthusiasm for a moment and answer these simple questions--
-----What did J.Muscat do when he had the power to do something as an MEP??
-----What 'new" or "alternative" proposals to the governments' are there in this statement??
It is not hollow smiles and posturing which should be exciting you but truly viable alternatives of which this statement is totally void!!
V Fenech
Sep 25th 2008, 19:26
For us Maltese who loves our country all this is a farce. Gonzi has gone there not to fight as any other leader of a country but to beg them help. One has to be keen in making his position strong before facing these people. He failed.
STEPHEN FARRUGIA
Sep 25th 2008, 19:21
When our Prime Minister knows that he has the support of his party, the MLP, the whole Right Wing, the whole nation of Malta, to take a stand and not sign the pact.
This agreement is unacceptable and if he does not win now, the EU will never do anything and he would only look weak, soft, and a undeserving leader of a great nation or party.
Do not sign. People abroad are showing little respect towards you and your country and if you come back with such a poor, lousy agreement, it would not exactly make you a 'Mintoff', or a strong pair of hands. The whole country insists that you don't sign.
Your christian values would not have worked, if you come back with this capitulation. If you feel that you cannot do it, make way for true nationalists that know and have the courage to do your unchristian acts, that need to be done. We don't have your moral problems. The country comes first.
C. Scerri
Sep 25th 2008, 19:09
A Polidano - the problem is that it is too easy to speak - why didn't Joseph (or the other MLP MEPS) put pressure on their MEP colleagues (after all the EU parliament has a majority of Left leaning MEPS).
BTW I am not defending the Government, I also think that he should be firmer and stronger and less afraid of the EU.
M Camenzuli
Sep 25th 2008, 19:09
Joseph Muscat couldn't resist boarding the 'racist' bandwagon, could he?
Progressive? My foot!
.
Joseph Mangani
Sep 25th 2008, 19:06
A Pact with no beef...certainly it won't change anything..if not for the worse. Wake up, Malta Government !
A Polidano
Sep 25th 2008, 19:00
The way the MLP is speaking my language fills me with enthusiasm for the future. 5 years is too long to wait. Thinking ..... at this rate mr. prime minister - should you stay there for so long? It seems you've lost the lot. I do not trust you dealing on my behalf anymore. Get out before it is too late