UNHCR's agenda is incompatible with Malta's
The EU Immigration Pact, which the Maltese government is ready to sign, has been criticised on several grounds. In my view its worst feature is the involvement of UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. According to the government's statement, the Immigration...
The EU Immigration Pact, which the Maltese government is ready to sign, has been criticised on several grounds. In my view its worst feature is the involvement of UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. According to the government's statement, the Immigration Pact envisages the voluntary relocation of refugees and specifies that the EU Commission will work "in consultation with UNHCR when appropriate". But UNHCR has repeatedly shown its opposition to Malta's interests. Let me mention three instances.
First, the Depasquale Report on the incidents at Safi detention centre in January 2005 says that the riot was organised (by others) to coincide with a long scheduled visit to Malta by then Rome-based UNHCR representative Michele Manca de Nissa.
During the incidents the rioters shouted "Manca, Manca". The day after, then Maltese Refugee Commissioner Charles Buttigieg and Mr Manca de Nissa visited the detention centres. Mr Buttigieg declared his surprise at the incendiary speeches that Mr Manca de Nissa made to the detainees, which in the circumstances could have led to further incidents.
Secondly, in July 2006, during the Spanish trawler stand-off between Malta and Spain, UNHCR took a strong public stand against Malta. The UN is based on the principle of the equality of Member States. It is not normal for a UN agency to side publicly with one Member State against another.
Thirdly, last June former Foreign Minister Michael Frendo revealed in the House of Representatives that Finland had been ready to take 400 refugees from Malta. The deal fell through when UNHCR refused to let Finland count them for its agreed quota of refugees.
In addition, those of us who follow events relating to illegal immigrants know that whenever the occasion arises UNHCR has taken a position against Malta's interests. Once it is known that UNHCR's agenda is incompatible with Malta's, the Maltese government should not have agreed to UNHCR's involvement in the voluntary relocation of refugees from Malta to other EU member states.