Friday, 26th September 2008
EU migration pact
Malta gets its way
Welcome graffiti in different languages greet visitors at the Ħal Far open centre. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
The concept of burden-sharing in the case of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers has been entrenched in the new European Union pact on migration which, if approved by the EU leaders next month, will set the EU policy in this sector for the years to come.
EU justice ministers yesterday accepted Malta's insistence to include burden-sharing as part and parcel of the EU pact and reached a final political agreement that now technically only needs the endorsement of the European Council next month.
Over the past weeks Malta had been insisting on the need to include a commitment towards burden sharing with its counterparts, who at first resisted the idea. However, following pressure at EU Permanent Representatives level and discussions between Malta's Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and European Commissioner Jacques Barrot, the last resisting member states lifted their objections.
"We have managed to reach our target," an upbeat Dr Mifsud Bonnici told The Times soon after the Council meeting in Brussels.
"We were already very positive that the French presidency was pushing forward this new migration pact and the fact that we have been successful in including in it the burden-sharing concept is a big step forward for Malta. We have managed to convince everyone that Malta needs help to ease the impact of asylum seekers and illegal migrants on our country."
The most important part of the pact for Malta concerns the way the EU will be treating asylum and, on Malta's insistence, the pact's text now refers specifically to the island's needs.
"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 co-ordinated basis, better re-allocation of beneficiaries of international protection from such member states to others, while ensuring that asylum systems are not abused," the pact states.
"In accordance with those principles, the Commission, in consultation with the UNHCR where appropriate, will facilitate such voluntary and coordinated re-allocation. Specific funding under existing EU financial instruments should be provided for this re-allocation, in accordance with budgetary procedures."
Although this is considered as a very important step in Malta's endeavours to get more help from the EU on asylum and illegal migration, the pact on its own does not mean that a solution will be found tomorrow.
Following final approval next month, the Commission will have to start transforming the pact into action by making official proposals on how the new burden-sharing mechanism is to work. This will then need to be endorsed once again by EU member states.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici warned that, although this is a very important political step ahead, it's not a final conclusion in itself.
"We have managed to put burden sharing on the EU agenda as part of its policy and this was not easy in the EU context. Obviously, we will now continue to exert pressure and promote our views. But now, at least, there is policy cast in stone and the burden-sharing concept will have to be introduced. We will continue to press for this even at Commission level."
Asked whether it would have been better if the new mechanism was not just on a voluntary basis as this might mean that no other member state will eventually accept to take any of Malta's asylum seekers, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that this will not be the case. "We can't impose on sovereign member states what to do and whom to take. But the most important thing is that this is now EU policy and I am sure that member states will participate in this new mechanism," he said.
The Malta Labour Party said it was not satisfied with the agreement, pointing out that the system agreed to is a voluntary one and no EU member state is obliged to participate in it.
The burden-sharing principle applies only to recognised refugees and the majority of illegal immigrants that arrive in Malta are not considered refugees and are therefore not covered by the agreed pact.
The MLP said there was no indication when the burden-sharing agreement would be put into practice, nor was it known what funds would be made available.
Reacting to the MLP's comments, the government pointed out that the agreed system would be applicable to the majority of migrants landing in Malta. This was because the numbers of those qualifying for international protection was rising and in fact this year these should exceed 60 per cent of arrivals. In addition, those not qualifying for international protection would be repatriated also through EU funding and assistance.
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Comments
Its just a very politically correct way to avoid responsility.
Like as the Maltese proverb says: "Traqqa l-pannu bil-qargha ahmar"
To Malta and its government, this will bring more and more problems. Problems which we did not cause in the first place, and Malta is getting and will be getting more and more beating from two opposite sides.
From the one side we will all be accused, more and more of being unhospital and racist, and from the other, the political class will be targeted from far right sypathizers as traitors of the 'patria' and what have you. Thanks Europe!
You obviously did not read Kevin Rudd's speach that if people want to emigrate to Australia, they Must be able to integrate in AUSTRALIA"s society and partake in the common good of the country. He also said that if they wanted to live in australia- they had to learn the rules and the language of australia and not expect the australians to learn theirs! oh and we do not have illegal immigrants in australia rowing over from other countries in large and continous amounts ...do we George? reality is Malta is too small to accomodate them and I have yet to find one good justification for it all. And dont mention christianity.... charity begins at home.
Your choice was to live in Aussie land and you were welcome , the Australians refused to take any illegal immigrants, Malta is smaller then your town you live in, how would you like it to take some of these people on your land and see how you like it .i lived in the UK long enough to know what im talking about when you enter a no go zone , what i found strange is it wasnt even their land , and do you believe that if you invade their country like they are doing here they are gonna welcome you,
I DONT THINK SO .MALTA IS flooded with CHINESE , RUSSIANS ,ALL SORT but the AFRICANs are coming over without any papers .MALTA 4 the MALTESE
Dear Prime Minister, please stand up and be counted, you still have time to do it, and we are all behind you.
Hon, such Illegal pact that is going to be endorsed will leave us with the same problems!!
Frank Sinatra says "I do it my way"
Dr CMB says "I get it my way"
So let us all sit back and enjoy the two refrains. Of course if you do not have regrets!!!
From personal experience, I can tell you that multiculturalism is a disaster.
It is a corrosive plan foisted by the gobal elite on the mainly white prosperous homogeneous peoples of the world to create disharmony amongst them,it is the old divide and rule technique, perfect if you plan to form one world government.
Multiculturalism's traveling companion is always Political Correctness.
As for mixing with other races, tell that to the same global elite and royal family dynasties.
These crooks and murderers go out of their way to marry inside their own family bloodlines and have been doing just that for centuries.
That might account for the elite's psychopathic tendencies.
It is always do as I say, not do as I do.
How come multiculturalism is never shoved down the throat of the people of Japan and China?
Good thing people like you have emigrated. Please stay out of sight now.
The Italians have been the first to implement this "burden sharing" agreement. But due to language difficulties they confused "sharing" with "dumping".
Prosit Drs Gonzi & Mifsud Bonnici with politicians like you, who needs . . . . . . . .
Up to now we had only words, they are still coming here and taking our jobs,
Now we are seeing them everywhere.Soon we regret this, and the people will soon give his verdict in the coming mep,s ellection.
EU STOP taking us the Maltese and other countries,which are facing these illegal immigrants,for a ride.
Are you serious? I veto you.
To all Maltese - start being part of this global world - start living in this world of 21st century - mix with other races. Please find link hereunder and we are still lagging behind in Sydney
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/simmering-tensions-downside-of-diversity/2008/09/27/1222217588520.html
Best wishes to Dr Carm Mifsud Bonnici - and congretulations for the hard working government.
This is a lousy excuse Mr Minister. Gaddafi's firm and consistent position on this issue was crystal clear even to polar bears well BEFORE Frontex even existed as an idea. If someone tries to build his house on the mud, no wonder the project fails but it's not the mud's fault. It's the designer's fault. Hence it's not an excuse to say that Frontex failed because it depended on Gaddafi's cooperation and generosity.
We are fed up Mr Minister, of this escalating problem. We are fed up of being treated like retards. We are fed up of being called racists by our own politicians and abused with the excuse of our 'christian values'.
I look at a couple of conventions our wise politicians signed, I look at Frontex and the 'Voluntary Pact' and then I look at the end of the tunnel and see no light.
That's because they didn't get what they want or didn't understand what they got. More likely, it's both.
Please go and do some research before you come up with your pro-illegal-immigrant agenda. I invite you to visit Hal Far and Albert Town, hell, even Valletta, and count the number of African illegal immigrants that you'll find. Then go and research the number of immigrants from Eastern Europe. You will find that besides the fact that the former far outweigh the latter by thousands of illegals, the vast majority of Eastern Europeans aren't even ILLEGAL immigrants. They've got documents and their status is confirmed.
So before you spout your pro-illegal-African-loving self-pity agenda, get your facts straight.
Are you time-warped, by any chance? Are you still affixiated to the times when people were decapitated and their heads used as cannon-balls????? Is that what you have in mind by raising La Vallette from his grave? Is that what you are insinuating? Something in that region? Let people die? Or turn one's head the other way? No way!
@M Pace: Prior to this development there was no legal framework to refer to ask other member states to help us - unquote.
Before we joined the EU, all we heard was negotiations, negotiations.
WHAT WAS NEGOTIATED, M Pcae?
WHAT?
Tell us.
Come on - tell us!
Let taxation be on a voluntary basis and see what happens. This gimmick might fool a few credulous PN followers but not the rest.
Illegal immigrants saddle a country with much more than financial burden. The most serious concern is social rather than economic.
As Lord Carey, ex Archbishop of Canterbury said a few days ago,
"Immigration weakens the glue that binds a nation." (Daily Express, 11Sept 2008, page 8)
Now come on guys, credit where it’s due!
If this “agreement” is good enough for DCG, it is good enough for everyone else!
So where are the numbers and percentages?
Yet again, EU has taken PN for another expensive ride.
Enjoy the foggy future!
Pity DCG had not joined forces with UK's Gordon Brown in Washington, to give the US senators a piece of her brilliant mind to solve the Wall St. problems.
What a pity!
Everything remained the same.
Cabinet resign. Get La Vallette out of his grave and he`ll handle this silent invasion of our island much better.
Maltese MEPs should vote "NO" to anything and everything the EU tries to legislate until the Burden Sharing is mandatory and not just voluntary.
Malta is a tiny rock with only 5 votes, but it also has the veto on certain issues. Some people forget that we have already done this in the past...in Helsinki and by none other than MINTOFF; the guy lots of people here love to hate!
If only everyone had Mintoff's guts to do the same and say, "Issa daqsekk!"
Those saying that JM is racist are just showing that they don't even know what the concept of racism is. And by the way, other left-wing Parties (eg New Zealand Labour) around the globe are in favour of managing immigration. If immigration is unmanaged and runs out of hand it is likely that both the locals and the immigrants will suffer. Do we need yet another proof that laissez-faire politics do not work? If we share our immigrants with our EU partners it would be much easier to integrate the remaining ones.
It is important that everyone understands what a break through this really is. Malta has been trying to get the other Member States to agree to burden sharing for years now. For the first time the concept of burden sharing is enshrined in an EU text agreed to by ALL THE 27 MEMBER STATES. Countries that up to now could not care less what is happening in Malta have agreed to give the plight of the Island a special status. The Eu could not act until such an agreement has been reached. The agreement, even though on a voluntary basis (it would not have happened had it not been), means that now refugees can be reallocated in other Member States within an agreed mechanism for which finances will be allocated by the EU. This together with other initiatives being taken by the EU on financing the repatriation of migrants refused refugee status should start in alleviating the problem we have on this Island. Does this mean that everything is perfect? Of course not, but it is a step, a big step in the right direction. Everyone should at least recognise this.
You can fool all the people for some time,
You can fool some people all the time,
But you cannot fool all the people all the time.
You have achieved nothing, on the contrary we are now in hotter water, so at least don't brag about it.
You ain't fooling me at all.
God help those Maltese couples and the black kids they lovingly chose to adopt.
1. Which are the EU countries which will take some of our unwanted refugees or asylum seekers or illegal immigrants?
2. How many of them?
3. When?
Let us hope this new agreement will not be just another lip service exercise of the Frontex type.
Perhaps it would have been better to plead with the US government who seem more understanding of African problems.
A great deal…..what a joke. I wonder whether the government would now accept if we start paying taxes on a voluntary basis (since we acknowledge that taxes are necessary for our society).
Let me ask all over again, when these people arrive we are invariably told that police investigations are carried out. Can someone illuminate us as to what these investigations lead to. Is it possible that out of the thousands interrogated no hint is given as to who are these human traffickers , not even one name which we could pass to Interpol. They tell us of the risks they take and the money they paid but no indication as to the perpetrators and to their departure point. I think that if we could just stop one of the offenders, the rest will cease their operations. Why not try it.
HAVE ANYONE OF YOU NOTICED THAT MALTA LEADS THE EU IN JOB CREATION AND THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE KEEPS GOING DOWN MONTH OVER MONTH?
You must be very narrow minded not to forsee our concern of our country.
Our concern is about any other people who enter Malta illegally without any personal documentation whatsoever. In case you do not know that is a crime. If you are white and you are here illegally that concernsgoes for you too.
So please do not judge us how to react about protecting our country. we have every right to do so..
Could you keep me informed of any more special offers,may place a bulk order.
Do they have a sell by date?
Thanks chris ,good to see a bit of humour in what is a very grave situation for Malta
Solutions are not made of one thing alone. Solutions are usually found in a number of actions in different directions.
Government never tried to portray burden sharing as the do all and end all of the illegal immigration problem. It never said, for example, that it was going to stop sending failed asylum seekers back to their countries.
This Pact will stop the EU from looking the other way on our problem, which is what it had been doing so far, and the Commission will be forced to put the mechanisms in place and act. We will not start benefiting from this arrangement immediately, obviously, but this is a good start to something positive.
But patience is a virtue.
Have you noticed that not only the EU has lost its crediblity but Libya has not moved a finger to do something for Malta.
For those that understand international politics. I bet that if Malta did not support palestine, the immigrant problem would be solved, think. (FOR DEEP THINKERS ONLY) wink!
The European Socialists would move and so would Libya.
We cannot recognise this as a step in the right direction because, away from the political hype of what Lawrence said and Joseph replied, we know that nothing in the imminent future is going to change.
We know for a fact that tomorrow on our way to work, we are going to see immigrants on our roads. When we get back home we are going to watch the news and hear of more illegal immigrants making it to our shores. More still, in a few months time some organisation will issue fresh and updated figures for immigrants and we can anticipate that the number is going to increase. Next summer we will hear again of some failed frontex mission, and again the whole ordeal starts afresh.
Probably we do not want steps in the right direction...probably we want a solution !
Can someone please explain to me what was holding back any country (EU or otherwise) from taking illegals away from us before this ´agreement´ was struck?
@ Samantha Lewis: So why is it that the government in your country not taking all the illegals (African, Asian, European, outer-space aliens, etc.) in Malta away from us? Your comments imply your endorsement of the illegal human trafficking trade and the mafia economy.
The best part of the joke, "ensuring that asylum systems are not abused."
Is this for real? If Malta is not being abused by both the illegals and the EU already, I wonder what may constitute an abuse!
Please be objective next time and avoid village style negative politics
This is concrete step in the right direction, so much so that even Joseph Muscat acknowledged that in his sour grapes press release.
As for the rest of his proposals, he can go and tell them to the Marines. No one in his right mind would even dream of forcing states like the United Kingdom into accepting compulsory burden-sharing. It is simply unconcievable and unrealistic, especially when consider that Malta has very little to bargain with.
The best part of the joke, "ensuring that asylum systems are not abused."
Is this for real? If Malta is not being abused by both the illegals and the EU already, I wonder what may constitute an abuse!
It is rich that you accuse the Maltese of being racist when our history and what makes us Maltese is a melting pot of several races that has occupied us throughout history. Malta is a country that survives on tourism therefore the Maltese come face to face with several races on a daily basis... with very little complaints.
The problem with illegal immigration in Malta is that we can't support this huge influx of people, which unlike tourism, do not bring their own money with them. I'm a strong humanitarian and would love to help as many people as I can. For a mother to get on a boat with her child with the knowledge that there is a high possibility of dying is quite desperate. At the same time my whole family is in Malta and for me, as cruel as it sounds, they come first.
So just think a bit first before you comment!
As Mr. Martin Portelli said, our government was unassertive.
Yes, it was in Malta's right and capabilities to block this agreement. Or was it a lie that every country around the table is treated as equal? This is all an election ploy. There was no need to entrench this 'voluntary' clause in the agreement. Only the gullible will be fooled by it. Some other EU countries like Latvia and the Netherlands took some immigrants, without this clause.
The major immigration problem and threat to our country is by the continous inflow of African boat people, cause unlike overstayers for example, our country has to provide everything for them, and you cant even send them back, cause they are uncooperative. They just come in and stay, and probably more from where they came from.
Any talk of identity will be labelled racism, but it is also an issue, however one hides it.
@isobel mcgonigle
Since it is on a voluntary basis, you decide how you want them.
At the moment there is a special offer.......take two dozens...we add an extra dozen for free...and they come gift wrapped too.
Joseph Muscat said we should not get tough with the Immigrants but with EU to help the country deal with this problem, because financially we can not continue to support so many illegal immigrants. PN knows it as well but somehow they think burden sharing on a voluntary basis is going to solve this problem. Tell us what in Joseph Muscats' statement constitutes being racist or fanning racist sentiments?? If he had been banging on about how these coloured people would bring an end to our community as we know it, or that these coloured people are taking our jobs (sentiments felt by many) then yes I would agree with you, however Joseph Muscat has only stated that the EU needs to commit itself more to helping us as financially we can not cope with this situation - Mr Cassola of AD said the same as Joseph Muscat that burden sharing should have been on a mandatory not voluntary basis, but has anyone from PN accused Mr. Cassola of jumping on the racist bandwagon - No. PN are using such wording against Joseph Muscat for political gain nothing else.
It depends what agenda have the person whom assisted you in the translation. It does make a difference. You can always paste it here, so we all see the sentence/paragraph in question.
You can't stand the fact that Joseph is the best shot we have as Maltese when it comes to negotiating with other EU leaders.
It's almost a fact that Gonzi & co. doesn't have the gutts to stand for OUR RIGHTS. He won the election, and that's what matters for him and his Party........unfortunately for me and 50% of the population.
Have you noticed how hypocritical these Europeans are, not only on this board but even when they spoke to our government yesterday. No credibility and very sad.
Some of the comments replying to my first one clearly confirm the racist streak in Malta.
I had no doubt about it; it’s only a confirmation.
It’s also a confirmation that it’s a question of colour. The prejudice against Eastern European immigrants in Malta is nowhere near that shown against African immigrants. You don’t get any of these comments about the thousands of Eastern Europeans in Malta. But as soon as a boatload of Africans comes in, all hell breaks loose.
I’m not disputing the existence of the prejudice against African immigrants – one can see it in all these comments. My point was that the last politician I ever expected to jump on this prejudiced bandwagon was Dr Joseph Muscat.
As someone else wrote down here, if Dr Muscat wanted to pose as a ‘progressive’ politician, yesterday’s press release definitely blew his cover.
As I do not understand Maltese, I had a friend translating it from the MLP’s own website and I was shocked not just at its wording but even more at the fact that it was coming from Dr Muscat.
If yesterday’s release from Dr Muscat is ‘progressive’ politics, then we’re reading 'progressive' off very different dictionaries.
This is a joke and the Maltese are being fooled again. A NO vote would get us what we need. If by Dec 1st 2008, we don't see planes full of illegals leaving the Island. I will have to expose the small mind our government has, including Minister Bonnici and the racism that exists in the other 26 EU countries. Where are the do-gooders? See no body else wants them. When are you people going to call the the northern states racists. Or are you afraid of them, like our government is. It's not the Maltese that are racists, it's the other 26EU countries that have the room and resources to keep these people. That can't guarantee they will help the illegals or help us. Shame on the do-gooders and the government. I'm ashamed to say I'm a PN supporter. I'll keep fighting this until the Maltese win, because I might be ashamed to be a PN supporter, but I'll never be ashamed to be Maltese.
We all remember his pro immigrants stand, and how he asked for arrests for those who dared speak about this problem.
It's never too late to change opinion.
Our only problem is Mifsud Bonnici and co who have the power and will sign this pact, which means a national disaster.
Again I state that if Joseph wants to show that he is a true leader he should get the people in the streets for the biggest protest ever held in Malta. The protest should be directed to Mifsud Bonnici and the PN, and not the immigrants. The PN is going to sign our death as a nation.
'Hu l ipokrezija marru jiccelebraw l indipendenza l gimgha l-ohra'
1. Frontex – “more a pull factor than a deterrent”.
2. Voluntary repatriation – a handful of illegal immigrants volunteer to return to their country (against payment).
3. Voluntary burden-sharing mechanism - a few countries may perhaps (but only perhaps) some time in the future (we know not when) take a handful of our unwanted refugees. But we do not know how many more will come immediately, attracted by the prospect of going to richer EU countries.
In the meantime illegal immigrants continue coming in their thousands.
Is it not time Dr Gonzi took some real decisions having real effects instead of preaching to us about Christian values? One good decision would be to put a strong minister in charge of illegal immigrants.
reminds me of when the british pm signed the 'peace in our time' agreement with hitler.
a few weeks later world war 2 started.
how pathetic. do RCC and CMB think we are complete idiots???
What we want to prevent is the disastrous melees of other countries which experimented with a multi-racial society ending up with ghettos and racial unrest. I don't have the space because the list is long, and please don't kid yourself we are not racists. If you don’t like it don’t come here.
Malta could you please despatch as soon as posible two dozen illegals
We have a shortage of them in Britain and would welcome a few more.
Will they be coming flat packed or ready assembled?
There is no commitment in the adopted Immigration Pact.
2. "We have managed to reach our target," an upbeat Dr Mifsud Bonnici told The Times … We were already very positive that the French presidency was pushing forward this new migration pact …”
How many refugees/ asylum seekers/ illegal immigrants will France take from Malta and when?
3. “The Commission, in consultation with the UNHCR where appropriate ...”
Is Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici satisfied that UNHCR’s treatment of Malta in the past is a sufficient guarantee for the future?
4. “… the pact on its own does not mean that a solution will be found tomorrow.”
When will a solution be found then? In 20 years time when we have been submerged by illegal immigrants?
5. “Obviously, we will now continue to exert pressure…”
Is Mifsud Bonnici the right person to exert pressure?
6. “We can't impose on sovereign member states what to do and whom to take”.
Malta is a sovereign state and thousands of illegal immigrants have been imposed upon us, with the full acquiescence of Gonzi’s government.
If this is true we really do not know what Malta needs to accept such a poor result from Europe.
I just heared that the volontiers already started queing and fighting between them about who is going to be first.
So, now with this new (wonder of wonders!) idea of volontary burden sharing, how about asking Sweden, perhaps? Or Finland? Why not? Or indeed so called safe third countries with plenty of space... persuade Australia and one or two other countries, maybe? Some Maltese settled migrants in such countries might be far more interested, willing, of assistence in the deal than .... well, EU bureaucrats, with an eye, almost invariably, on their careers and perks. But whatever you do, don't ask Britain because as someone recently remarked: "We can't take any more. The bus is full!"
You are terribly mistaken, if not impertinent. Wide ranging sentiments have been expressed over the past several months on these comment boards in regard to human traffickers and illegal immigrants who collaborate with them. These sentiments have been anything but "prejudiced" as you claim.
You have lived on and off in Malta for a few years, you say. May I remind you that the same Maltese people whom you are accusing of a "racist streak" have lived on Malta over many generations going back more than two thousand years. Over these many centuries we have come into contact with coloured people more than you can possibly imagine.
These are genuine concerns expressed by Maltese people justifiably worried about their small homeland with very limited resources. The illegal immigrants whom you identify as "coloured" have left behind them large countries with untold riches. The Maltese people have every right to ask them to return to their homelands and to make the best of their own resources. Malta cannot afford to continue to shoulder such a heavy burden, let alone be insulted or intimidated on top of everything.
Joseph Muscat was against the EU, now he's in favour.
He goes to the European Parliament and votes in favour of giving immigrants the right to vote.
The day he resigns from MEP, he forgets his own vote there and comes out with a release that stokes the already high prejudice and negativity there is in Malta against immigrants.
And he says he's 'progressive'!
"The more they change, the more they stay the same".
What is stopping them to keep doing that and others to follow suit, now that the EU is supporting this is beyond me...
What I would like to know is, why is it that when a person that does not come from Africa is caught without the necessary documentation in any country not just Malta he is immediately deported, whilst if that person happens to be coming from Africa not only we do not deport him but us locals have to also pay for his upkeep.
So you tell me who is making it a question of race here, us or the African people?
The Pact proposes a structural contradiction The Pact sets out to deal with a variety of issues connected with migration on an EU wide basis but does not address the heart of the matter, migrant mobility within the EU leaving it to Member States on a voluntary basis.
Better a Pact than no pact at all.From Malta\s perspective it is as close to next to nothing as possible. We can only hope that the net result is not ENTRENCHED as does not SET EU POLICY FOR YEARS TO COME
This pact was a no deal from the beginning. Rejecting the pact would have retained the status quo...accepting the pact will not change things since it is based on voluntary participation by other member states. Frontex was also based on this principle and we are all witness to the achievments, or lack therof.
Changing the Immigration Pact to force other member states to participate is what we needed, but obviously did not get nor will we ever get. For those of us who think that the EU will come to our aid....forget it.... They might give us money (probably same money being deducted from other funds we might have got) ...but the burden is and will remain on us. They want the migrating birds Oh yes! Migrating humans?...No thank you!
And please from all the available titles........very funny indeed !
@ joe vella. i regret to inform you that you were quoting ( correctly) a lie told by david casa. joseph voted for legal and not illegal immigrants to be given the right to vote.
@ jeremy montebello. i am not a racist but i do not want my country becoming another kosovo.
@ m camenzuli. telling us that joseph muscat's stance is wrong is neither here nor there. remember that gonzipn is in power. or are they??
this declaration means nothing. it is a subtle way of shutting us up. all other countries have far bigger problems to worry about illegal immigration in malta.
i thought frontex was going to solve our problem. like hell it did! and surely it wasn'y joseph's fault !
It is not prejudice Samantha, but the fact that we are under a massive invasion as it has aptly been called by our own Prime Minister, by ILLEGAL immigrants who have absolutely NO right to be here.
We have every right to protect OUR country, OUR society and ourselves from this alien invasion Samantha, and we do not want to end up having Brixtons and Parises all over Malta.
This also includes those who came here and overstay their visa, so do not bring colour into the equation Samantha.
It's just too bad if you don't like it.
But I am also a Maltese citizen and an EU citizen. There is no denying that we need help in tackling such a widespread and complex problem. Should Malta and other peripheral states be made to walk down this road alone? Is it racist or rightist to ask for assistance from other EU counterparts? Should the big states on the mainland offer assistance on a voluntary basis? Or should we all be considered as equals, irrespective of geographical position or size?
Human problems require human solutions and not partisan pandering which unfortunately seems to persist here.
We are speaking on illegal immigrants, and not on skin colour.
If you came here legally there is absolutely no problem with the majority of the Maltese people
Miss Lewis to be against illegal immigration is not an issue of left of right wing. Its true that most anti immigrant parties are right wing, but not all of them.
After all you have a right to choose. Yesterday the PN showed to all Malta that his attitude is pro illegal immigration invasion
As I told you earlier if you are legally here then you should vote for someone who accepts only legal immigrants, and not illegal immigrants like the Gonzi adminstration is doing.
@ Samantha Lewis
Another European that fights to take the immigrants back home...don't make be laugh. All the EU and other preachers have lost credibility.
I believe that the Maltese Premier should respect the Maltese people's intelligence and stop treating us like a herd of goats. Please bear in mind Dear Mr. Prime Minister that there are intelligent people out there (some are far more intelligent than the bunch that you are surrounded with).
Finally, Mr Prime Minister, I am positive that you will not in the least be perturbed by the fact that you will not lead the country after the next election, but please stop and ponder what eternal harm you are inflicting on this island. We deserve better. I repeat : WE DESERVE BETTER.
If other EU members wanted to volonteer in taking illegal immigrants they would have done so. this deal is a farce, they are just trying to take us for a ride, they are absolutely doing nothng to stop this crisis.
A racist streak in the Maltese population is evident, especially for foreigners like me who have lived on and off in Malta for a few years now. It might be because Maltese have never really come into contact with people of colour before the last few years.
The last politician I would have expected to pander to the prejudice felt by many Maltese would have been Dr Joseph Muscat. I thought he had learned something in his last four years in the European Parliament now that he has embraced membership of the EU as a natural progression of politics in Malta.
I feel it is most unfortunate that it is now precisely Dr Joseph Muscat who has not resisted the easy yet ultimately fruitless option of pandering to prejudice and the feeling against immigrants.
Many politicians of the right have gone with the flow of anti-immigrant sentiments, yet few of these politicians are actually anywhere near power. Prejudiced sentiments are a very dangerous bull to ride, and Dr Muscat should take heed.
I hope Malta's Labour Party does not veer even more to the right with an anti-immigrant agenda as it had veered right when it vehemently opposed EU membership.
What David Casa did not say that Joseph Muscat voted in favour of LEGAL immigrants having the right to vote.
Here we are not talking of LEGAL immigrants but of ILLEGAL or IRREGULAR immigrants.
As we say in Maltese....."nofs verita' hija aghar minn gidba", and "min jibla kollox hu m......."
However, after the stance he took yesterday, it is clear that he's no progressive at all.
Rather, he is pandering to the anti-immigrant and prejudiced sentiments many people have in Malta.
The immigration issue is a test for all principled politicians as to whether they truly hold the principles of solidarity and regard for all human beings or whether they join the prejudiced flow.
Joseph Muscat yesterday failed this test miserably.
I would also like to congratulate Mr. Mifsud Bonnici for making sure that the motivation immigrants have in reaching Europe is not materialised. Now they really have a reason for reaching our islands. The MLPN have been great in attracting non-European Tourist eating away from our taxes. The country now and in the future will hold them accountable.
All the greens and liberals will be glad with such a position and so will be the criminal human trafficers.
You are giving fuel to the fire
"Minkejja li issa l-mexxej Laburista Joseph Muscat qed jisħaq li l-Gvern għandu jieħu pożizzjoni iebsa dwar l-immigrazzjoni, fiż-żmien li hu kien Deputat Parlamentari fil-Parlament Ewropew kien ivvota favur mozzjoni biex l-immigranti jkollhom id-dritt tal-vot. Dan kien żvelat mill-Ewro Parlamentari Nazzjonalista David Casa waqt il-programm Newsdesk fuq Radio 101 illejla."
Joseph Muscat have some explaining to do; or is he going to tell us he was wrong like he did in regards to the EU and expect US to forgive him?
Joseph Muscat, the supposedly 'moderate' and 'progressive' 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.
Can anyone of his apologists here explain what's 'progressive' and 'moderate'
about the stance he took in his press release?
Done an excellent job?
At the mercy of our eu counterparts?
Aren't we supposed to be equal in the eu?
Don't we have veto power?
Then why did the government use it?
Shame, shame and shame again.
This deal is a big big joke. I mean, we already a situation where any country in the EU could take our immigrants at a voluntary basis and the results of that where pretty low. No wonder why this deal had the backup of all countries in the EU.
Had Malta insisted on such a clause the most probable end result would have been a deadlock in the negotiations with no Migration Pact at all.
Then we would have seen various comments accusing the EU of being inefficient and unable to reach an agreement on such an important issue.
It seems that they are always right whatever the result!
I think whoever was involved did their best to get this far and they did well.
The comments so far seem to have absolutely no idea what it is like and its fine to just criticize and disagree - but you don't get anywhere with just criticizing.
Who could have done it better? And could they? I am sure who was involved explored all the possibilities.
Once again I feel it all boils down to expired party politics which at the European Level are to say the least, pointless and useless.
The last sentence of this article, though, is encouraging: 'those not qualifying for international protection would be repatriated also through EU funding and assistance.' I believe this is the only hope for Malta now. We must get some concrete information from the government about mass repatriation schemes for illegal immigrants who do not qualify for refugee status. Otherwise, Malta will become a free for all. Also, Frontex must PROTECT our borders by turning away boatloads of illegal immigrants after giving them food, water and fuel. If Malta's detention centres are full, we must put up a 'closed' sign and let the other EU countries take future arrivals.
Italy has criminalised illegal immigration. This means that illegal immigrants are effectively jailed if caught roaming the streets or working without a permit. The Italian army has also been given increased powers to round up the illegal immigrants in large cities.
Once their freedom is curtailed, a large number may find the time to ‘remember’ the name of their country and thereby facilitate their repatriation. These immigrants will also quickly spread the word that landing in Malta is no holiday.
This Pact means that the EU is acknowledging the fact that illegal immigration is a problem that should be tackled by the EU as a whole. To me this is a big step forward considering that the EU up till last year would not even having a common policy on immigration.
I am sure that the two Muscats (Josie and Joey) would have have been able to coerce all other 26 states into signing the pact on their own terms. You know... with all the clout they carry...
I am not really sure re the title of this article.
It might be true or a spin.
The title is a bit on the sensational side as how it normally is.
I can't really say that the deal is a good or bad until one person would have the whole document in his hand.
With that article the people are not wiser to see what shall happen.
However the Maltese should realise that Malta is a top target for immigrants. We cannot really rely on Christian charity as I can assure you that the more immigrants come to Malta, a good percentage of them would settle here and start an inter racial family.
This would mean that in future the Maltese would be changing in their characteristics thus we would be having a multi racial society in a small area of 17 miles by 9 miles. Astounding no?
Can any EU bright spark envision that?
What EFA said on the signing on Malta accession to the EU was simply euphoria as he simply brought his mission to an end.
Multi racial bananas.
We need to have a national policy on how to handle this situation with all its implications. Public confidence is not reassured. I suggest politicians swallow their partisan pride and if there truly is the shadow of statesmanship in any of them,start work towards a creative solution. I propose a national body to deal with the problem perhaps we can start asking the right questions to think of the right solutions. Screaming each other down will garner Malta no points.
The problem would be solved by refusing to assist these illegal immigrants and disallowing them entry into EU territory irrespective of any UNHCR compromise. These are methods employed by more democratic countries like Australia or the US. Australia insists on an outriht refusal and and illegal immigration is not treated with complacency but with a heavy hand.
Other EU countries are turning their heads at the problem and the volontary pact is not a strong enough clause. Frontex has proved useless and our MEP have only shown that they are pawns in the mighty EU chessgame.
Our situation has reached critical levels and the Maltese Government must, in the interest of this once free nation, call a state of emergency considering the fact that the illegal immigrants have outnumbered our military.
Just imagine what Burden Sharing would have done!
This is more tragic for us since illegals will cross more in numbers whn they hear that Europe will finally might take them. But Ooops the bingo game can only give you a price is on Voluntary basis! So the answer in result will be: more & more illegal coming to Malta tempting to play the game when no country then is obliged to take them !
The only solution that remains in our hands is,I do suggest to start organizing pilgrimages to Girgenti of perhaps Borg in-Nadur forsi Holy Mary tismana !
I sincerely fear that this pact will only serve as an even stronger pull factor for the illegal immigrants to make it to our shores, with the hope of successfully conning the system and getting away with a refugee status, which in turn would mean a chance to make it safely into mainland Europe.
Obviously the persons writing on this forum have no experience in poltics
This reminds one of what EFA said before signing the Accession Treaty, when he said, we have secured and negotiated an agreement, that protects our moral values including a NO Divorce laws and also protects our Industry including our Dockyard.
Some swallowed the bait and are now reaping the benefits of Lies and Deceit.
Where are the numbers in this agreement?
Which countries will take part?
How much is the "financial help"?
When and how will this "Malta gets its way" begin to take shape?
For goodness sake, why doesn’t the Government focus on the economic disaster that is looming at our shores?
That's what this country's getting for re- electing a party that has 20- year old roots in government. And this is just the cherry on the cake. WELL DONE MALTA!!!!!
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.
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
There's ample time from now until 5 June 2009 for all Maltese citizens to see with their own eyes what this European 'burden sharing mechanism' is all about.
He betrayed the country.
There is nothing written, that illegal immigrants will move to other EU countries.
Shame on you. I sincerely hope that in the MEP elections the PN will learn a very good lesson.