Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
MEPs agree on €5 million EU solidarity mechanism
The European Parliament has allocated €5 million for the setting up and administration of a new intra-EU solidarity mechanism that will kick-start the voluntary burden-sharing mechanism.
The move follows amendments proposed by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil to the EP's Budgets Committee to launch a new intra-EU resettlement programme for refugees and beneficiaries of international protection, similar to the one in place between Malta and the US.
Following a marathon session to approve the EU's budget for 2009 at first reading, the committee backed Dr Busuttil's amendment to increase the European Refuge Fund's allocation by a further €10 million. Half these funds, will be utilised specifically for the setting up and administration of the proposed solidarity mechanism.
Following yesterday's approval, the new mechanism will now have to be negotiated with the EU Council (member states) before getting the final green light.
Negotiations are expected to be held next month and the final approval of next year's EU budget by the EP is scheduled for December.
Visibly satisfied by the move, Dr Busuttil said this was another step forward for Malta to get the help it needed in a concrete way.
"I am delighted that Parliament has followed in the steps of the Immigration Pact, recently adopted by Council, in giving its green light for a burden-sharing mechanism," he said.
"Moreover, we went one step further by allocating an initial €5 million to help get this mechanism going. Through this move Parliament has put its money where its mouth is."
According to Dr Busuttil's proposal, the EU should set up the intra-EU solidarity mechanism next year. This will ease the voluntary reallocation of refugees and beneficiaries of international protection from EU member states, which are facing severe pressure from immigration flows to other EU countries.
According to the committee's approved amendment, "member states would freely determine all aspects of the selection process on a voluntary basis and the Commission would set the framework, issue guidelines, encourage participation and facilitate management coordination".
The committee's decision comes close after EU Justice Ministers approved the EU Immigration Pact, which, on Malta's insistence, includes a commitment for burden sharing.
Dr Busuttil's amendment was supported by the EPP-ED Group and the Socialist Group within the committee, including Labour MEP Louis Grech.
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l Galea
Oct 8th 2008, 15:40
"The committee's decision comes close after EU Justice Ministers approved the EU Immigration Pact, which, on Malta's insistence, includes a commitment for burden sharing."
Why is "VOLUNTARY" being left out of the equation?
louise vella
Oct 8th 2008, 15:15
@ Dr Gonzi.
Furthermore, the 1000 illegal immigrants landing in Lampedusa brought the inmates of the detention centre to a total of 1400, much more than it could hold. On 8 October the Italian government organised an airlift to take them to mainland Italy (see below from www.corriere.it).
If the same were to happen to Malta (as it very well could) would the EU’s Immigration Pact be of any help?
Immigrati: ponte aereo da Lampedusa 08 ott 07:32
LAMPEDUSA - Sara' istituito oggi un ponte aereo per svuotare il Centro di prima accoglienza di Lampedusa: la struttura, di nuovo al collasso, ospita 1.400 immigrati, il doppio rispetto alla capacita' prevista. Un migliaio gli extracomunitari arrivati ieri sull'isola. (Agr)
louise vella
Oct 8th 2008, 15:02
On 7 October about 1000 illegal immigrants landed in Lampedusa (see below from www.corriere.it). If the wind had been blowing the other way, they would have landed in Malta. Why does Frontex not stop them? Will the EU’s Immigration Pact stop them?
@ Dr Simon Busuttil: how will the European Parliament’s €5 million stop them?
@ Dr Lawrence Gonzi: what difference will there be after you have signed the EU Immigration Pact?
Immigrati: mille in poche ore sbarcano a Lampedusa 08 ott 00:35
PALERMO - Una sequenza ininterrotta di arrivi ha portato a Lampedusa circa mille extracomunitari in meno di 12 ore. Tra le 20 e le 22 sono state raggiunte vari gommoni e barche che trasportavano in totale 562 persone. Altre 416 erano giunte nel corso della giornata... (Agr)
Stephen Zammit
Oct 8th 2008, 12:51
@ K Caruana
You are missing the point here because, for the first time, the funding is being specifically earmarked for the burden-sharing mechanism that will enable immigrants to move from Malta to other EU countries.
Keep in mind that this was not possible so far because there was no EU scheme available. it must now be set up.
America has something similar today. Through this the EU will have a mechanism in place as well.
K Caruana
Oct 8th 2008, 12:10
I cannot actually see anything new with this.
Funding for a solidarity mechanism on migration has been allocated since 2005 by the European Parliament. This reached €15,000,000 in 2007.
So where's the deal?
Please click on link below to confirm.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1035&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en