EU Parliament committee allocates first funds for burden-sharing mechanism
Frontex mission to be extended
The Budgets Committee of the European Parliament today adopted an amendment tabled last month by MEP Simon Busuttil calling for the establishment of a "Solidarity Mechanism" to enable burden-sharing on immigration among EU member states.
The committee accepted Dr Busuttil's amendment to allocate an additional €5 million to the European Refugee Fund so that the operation of the burden-sharing mechanism could start.
Another €5 million were allocated to promote other resettlement schemes.
The amendment as adopted, reflects the burden-sharing provision recently adopted by EU ministers.
Dr Busuttil expressed his satisfaction that the committee had endorsed his request .
"I am delighted that today Parliament has followed in the steps of the Immigration Pact recently adopted by Council in giving its green-light for a burden-sharing mechanism.
"Moreover, we went one step further by allocating an initial €5 million to help get this mechanism going. Today, Parliament put its money where its mouth is."
Separately, the committee also adopted a compromise on another amendment tabled by Dr Busuttil which allocates an additional €10 million to the EU's Frontex agency to enable it to extend its maritime missions in Southern Europe on a permanent basis with effect from next January.
MEP Louis Grech, who was present at the meeting, intervened to secure the Socialists' support on the Frontex amendment. The vote in the Budget Committee is expected to be endorsed in the Parliament's plenary when it meets later this month in Strasbourg to vote on the first reading of the EU budget for 2009.
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S Micallef
Oct 8th 2008, 11:52
One may criticise that it’s never enough to solve this European problem of illegal migration….however Simon Busuttil is the only Maltese MEP who has really strived hard to ease this problem for our nation. Facts are facts. Simon, keep up the good work. All other candidates for the MEP elections should follow Simon as an example.
David Battistino
Oct 8th 2008, 10:33
If we did not join the EU would these PEOPLE come or not in boat loads on this island?
If we did not join the EU would Malta have benefited from any form of assistance?
If we did not join the EU would we have MEPs like Simon that would put forward this problem where it matters and get our voice heard and get help?
From what I understand although the current Leader of the Opposition was against joining EU, now also the opposition is ‘four square’ behind the Government in this issue so let us all stop this nonsense of EU not helping and of Malta being invaded.
This is reality and we have to accept it.
Well done to our MEPs especially Simon
John Saliba
Oct 8th 2008, 10:24
Mr. V Fenech needs to understand that Dr. Busuttil never was in the shadow of Joseph Muscat. Simon was the one who stood foresquare with Prime Minister Fenech Adami in his quest for EU membership and spearheaded the "Yes" vote. We all know where Joseph stood then. Mr. Fenech please note that Dr. Simon Busuttil has a much better chance of becoming Prime Minister than Joseph remaining leader of the MLP for more than ten years.
frank muscat
Oct 8th 2008, 10:17
simon busutiil is trying to patch his party's mistakes . We do not want burden sharing for refugees, we want burden sharing for illegal immigrants cause there is the main problem . That is why joseph is right and gonzi is mistaken.
Rita Spiteri
Oct 8th 2008, 10:10
There is nowhere in the article that mentions ILLEGAL immigrants it only says Refugees. We only had about 200 refugees in the last two years whereas we had to cope with about 4000 ILLEGAL immigrants
P Debono
Oct 8th 2008, 07:44
Great... I'm sure the millions of Africans will have heard this news and I hope you've all prepared yourself for another record year of illegals coming to our shores.
Denis Catania
Oct 8th 2008, 04:23
We sure hope that the illegal immigrants start getting resettled to other parts of Europe soon. Per wishes of the illegals and the majority of the Maltese.
STEPHEN FARRUGIA
Oct 8th 2008, 03:57
Does all this offer a solution for the removal of immigrants? The answer is 'No'. In fact, the situation has become much worse with these lousy solutions. We are being taken for a ride with these fairy tale stories.
M. Mercieca
Oct 8th 2008, 02:52
"Moreover, we went one step further by allocating an initial €5 million to help get this mechanism going. Today, Parliament put its money where its mouth is.
Another good step forward.
Well done Simon.
Hopefully the hysteria of ‘patriot tax payer’ calm down. How ever, I am still expecting same desperate moaners to say….the problem is not about money….its about…………..(they can always use the immigrants as convenient scapegoats for any negative developments, this of course may vary to include, the murder of Gozo warden, the global financial crises, oil prices or even climate changes)
Joseph E Briffa
Oct 8th 2008, 00:19
That's really good news! Well done Simon and Louis! Hope the moaners will stop moping.
V Fenech
Oct 7th 2008, 23:34
Loool
The European Union is allocating more funds to Malta in order to make these immigrants feel more comfortable. In the meanwhile more boats will surely arrive as Dr.Busuttil keeps trying to rebuild his credibility after the five years which he have spent in the shadows of Joseph Muscat.
Remember that the MEP's election is fast approaching and maybe Busuttil wants to reassure his seat in Brussels by trying to steal our hearts with the immigrants' issue.
M Bartolo
Oct 7th 2008, 23:10
This is what I call action.
Simon Busuttil speaks sense and this is why he gets it his way!
After proposing something concrete on how burden sharing could work in the EU, despite not having even a law on the subject, now he has the go-ahead of his committee collegues to get finances in place to make the system happen.
We are proud of you!