Matthew Xuereb
Government rejects MLP's call to veto EU migration pact
The government yesterday rejected a plea by Labour leader Joseph Muscat for Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi not to sign the EU Immigration Pact.
The pact, agreed by EU justice ministers last week, accepted Malta's insistence to include burden-sharing as part and parcel of the new pact and reached a final agreement that now, technically, only needed the European Council's endorsement next month.
Speaking in Żebbuġ yesterday, Dr Muscat said it was a pity that the government had given up when it could have obtained a more concrete result for Malta - at a time of a national crisis - even when Dr Gonzi knew he had the full support of the Labour Party on this.
He criticised the pact from two aspects: First, the system mentioned in the pact was voluntary and did not oblige EU countries to participate. Secondly, the system would only apply to people who had been accepted as refugees. The majority of illegal immigrants landing in Malta were not considered refugees and, as a result, were excluded from the pact.
Over the past weeks, Malta had been insisting on the need to include a commitment towards burden sharing with its counterparts, which at first resisted the idea but later lifted their objections.
Dr Muscat said Malta could have been firmer with EU member states and, had the MLP been in government, it would not have agreed to this pact. The government was weak and had surrendered to such an agreement.
He called on Dr Gonzi not to sign the pact, saying the MLP would be "four square" behind the government but warned that Dr Gonzi should not expect any favours from Labour if he forged ahead and signed it. In a quick reply, the government rejected this appeal, saying the Labour leader wanted to dump an agreement that would benefit Malta.
While Dr Muscat was taking a position against the Immigration Pact, he had not proposed any alternative. Up to some time ago, EU member states tackled illegal immigration individually but now the pact meant assistance for Malta.
The burden-sharing mechanism would apply to all migrants who enjoyed some sort of international protection - as was the case for most of the migrants who came to Malta. The rest would be repatriated to their country of origin, the government said.
Dr Muscat also spoke about a recruitment drive being launched by Labour in the coming days to increase the number of party members. He said it was unacceptable that a party like Labour only had 19,000 members.
He reiterated his gratitude to Labour MP Joseph Cuschieri who will be resigning from Parliament tonight, enabling Dr Muscat's co-option to the House.
Dr Muscat said he would be in the House to listen to Mr Cuschieri's farewell speech. He said Labourites should never forget what Mr Cuschieri had done for the party.
Dr Muscat referred to investigations into the hacking of gov.mt e-mail accounts, saying all those who had their account hacked should be given all the information possible.
He also spoke about water and electricity bills and the added burden families had to carry.
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Sandro Pace
Sep 30th 2008, 13:51
If the EU at least does not officially recognise that, given the current situation of continous influxes, the situation is unsustainable for Malta, it is grossly failing the rights of the Maltese people, and their well being. That is why nothing should have been signed until a more CLEAR text of our situation was included.
Not pushing for this, our government is failing the population. We have the least living place per capita in all of Europe. We cannot continue to be crowded by immigration against our will. Voluntary or involuntary, immigrants should be let go to the mainland, and not accepted back if caught. It does not have to be done with a Maltese passport. There are other travel documents that can be used.
The EU so far failed Malta. Not in not accepting the burden, but in not defending our boarders, as members with Rights. With these numbers, only idiots fail to recognise that safeguarding immigrant rights and Maltese rights is becoming contradictory.
John Cutajrar
Sep 30th 2008, 08:08
Another ingredient for the PN minestrone. Kompli ghaffeg Dott. Idejn Soda.
Marton Saliba
Sep 29th 2008, 20:19
Talking about a Mediterranean version of Switzerland, whose leader is deliberately contaminating the country with unwanted people (let's face it, they ARE unwanted).
I wonder how can somebody like the horde of the government can even call themselves patriots).
In maltese..."Tizattatx"
Joanne Micallef
Sep 29th 2008, 15:29
@ Mr Mario Camilleri - Well for starters they can organize a National Demonstration so they can show their solidarity with the Maltese people who are very concerned about the future of this Nation. In the demonstration which I'm sure will make news all over Europe Joseph Muscat can address the EU and tell them exactly what he thinks they should do, if they really want this tiny Island to prosper rather than decline and fall apart.
The people need to feel that at least one major political party is behind them on this issue, I’m afraid words and excuses will do nothing to gain the trust of those who are not true Labourites.
Chris Borg
Sep 29th 2008, 15:07
@ l Galea....iljun mal-hrief u haruf ma'l-iljuni...that's what my father had to say of Sir M. Gonzi...it seems this runs in the family ha ha ha
Mario Camilleri
Sep 29th 2008, 14:47
@joanne
How you expect the MLP to take action if it is not the government of this country? i would suggest that both parties take common stances on sensitive issues like immigration but unfortunately in this country it's never the case!!
Joanne Micallef
Sep 29th 2008, 13:42
Whilst I applaud the stance which Joseph Muscat took regarding the pact, words alone will not get us anywhere. What else are the MLP prepared to do?
Now I know that the MLP are not in goverment, but unfortunately they are the only other party that represents us citizens in parlament. Therefore since they know that the majority of the Maltese people are extremely unhappy with this situation, and knowing full well that if nothing concrete is done to stem the flow illegal immigration will bring our country to its knees, I expect to see some action from this party not just smiles and words, as those alone will not convince me to vote for their candidates come June 2009.
d. borg
Sep 29th 2008, 12:41
On such an important issue, the government should let the people decide by calling a referendum. I don't think it would come as a surprise what the Maltese really want.
Sander Depasquale
Sep 29th 2008, 12:27
In actual fact, this is a clasical autogoal for the PN.
The immigrants problem should have never been politicied. But if you score an autogoal, the party in opposition has every right to celebrate....
The EU through the pact is trying to attract qualified immigrants to the EU by introducing the blue card system. Such immigrants wulf be qualified professionals and medical staff. The scope of the EU is to attract the best people from the african continent to be more competitive to the US.
New member countries within the EU has lobbied to first allow all the citizens within the EU to have free movement all throught he EU countries and then introduce the blue card.
Malta could have used the same argument, let us first introduce obligatory burden sharing so that all the immigrants needing help will be shared, and then we introduce the blue card.
The nationalist party should be careful not to think that the maltese are stupid enough to believe that this is a victory for Malta. In actual fact this means 'bye bye' to the principle of burden sharing.
l Galea
Sep 29th 2008, 11:13
@Edwin Formosa
The pact is a joke. If the other eu countries wanted to they would have already stepped in, but they don't want to be lumped with ILLEGAL immigrants.
Our Prime Minister is a LION when he faces the Maltese people to imposes taxes and his will, but is simply a CHICKEN when he faces the eu dermocrant dictators.
I. M. Dingli
Sep 29th 2008, 11:13
@ Edwin Formosa
Your claims about international protection and repatriation are unfounded. Check the statistics before speaking up. It is completely the other way round.
Edwin Formosa
Sep 29th 2008, 11:03
While Dr Muscat was taking a position against the Immigration Pact, he had not proposed any alternative. Up to some time ago, EU member states tackled illegal immigration individually but now the pact meant assistance for Malta.
The burden-sharing mechanism would apply to all migrants who enjoyed some sort of international protection - as was the case for most of the migrants who came to Malta. The rest would be repatriated to their country of origin,
Edwin Formosa
Sep 29th 2008, 10:58
@Kevin Zammit ""This is definitly a big 1 - 0 for MLP. "" Are you quoting Jason Micallef ? He spent the last 4 years telling us so.
J Abela
Sep 29th 2008, 10:54
Oh well. I suppose that it's true.
Every country gets the government it deserves (especially when it voted for it).
I rest my case.
Hamish Dempster
Sep 29th 2008, 10:51
Dr Gonzi's government is just a puppet show and the cabinet are the puppets . Puppets of the BIG BULLIES EU.
Just like the imperial times "yes sir , no sir"
This was not on the electoral manifesto.
M.Buhagiar
Sep 29th 2008, 10:06
Back to the usual arrogant , know it all, no need advice statements from this arrogant Government .
Its a real pity for our country !
philip pace
Sep 29th 2008, 10:01
Can the Government come clean about this and explain thoroughly what Malta achieved?
This would be a very positive step in the right direction from the same Government if all the citizens would know exactly what our politicians managed to get from as from the street level it looks like that Malta aquired nothing as it remained the dumping place for illegal immigrants.
The thorough explanation should be clear stated from the start and no hidden truths!
Kevin Zammit
Sep 29th 2008, 09:28
This is definitly a big 1 - 0 for MLP.