Thursday, 9th October 2008 - 10:49CET
Minister underscores commitment to migrant voluntary return programme
Foreign Minister Tonio Borg this morning spoke on Malta’s determination to get results from voluntary return programmes for migrants.
Speaking at a seminar which grouped people involved in this area from across the EU, Dr Borg said that besides integration and burden-sharing, a third option for dealing with the migrants situation was to take a firm stand against irregular migration and insist on the expeditious repatriation of immigrants who do not satisfy the requirements for protection under the Geneva Convention .
“A state has to be in a position not only to decide whether a foreign national is legally entitled to remain on its territory or not but also to be in a position to actually enforce the removal, if that person does not leave of his or her own accord.”
While one had to pursue a policy of enforced returns, painful as they were, the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme (known in Malta as DAR) meant a return in dignity to one's home country, with advice and assistance pre-departure and post-arrival, as well as some cash, so that the returnees could re-integrate themselves quickly in their societies and look forward to a brighter future.
European States as well as countries of origin of irregular migrants had a clear preference for voluntary return. Still, return programmes were far from being easy, with challenges all along the way, starting from that of gaining the trust of returnees, and their consent, the identification of their true identity and nationality, the cooperation of the authorities in the countries of origin through identification processes and release of travel documents.
Dr Borg said Malta was benefiting a lot from the experience and know-how of other countries which had adopted return programmes.
“We know that we have to find our own way in building effective return policies tailored to our specific conditions and we have to adapt foreign systems to our situation... We are of course on a learning curve and we will commit some mistakes along the way but we are determined to reach our target in the end.”
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Comments
I dont have any political far right interest and whenever there is an issue regarding illegal immigration I try to follow it up and share my views. I also stated many times that I am disgusted with the situation in my country and especially in my village - Bugia. If we have to wait for voluntary return at the rate of 12 a year pls tell me how long I have to wait before I see Bugia return ours. As I also stated many times I dare anyone to switch places with me anytime. When one has first hand experience on the illegal immigrants and is not happy, it doesnt make him a racist or hiding a political agenda one is simply fed up with the situation and watching nothing being done except more illegals arriving and living it up at our expense. Hope you are happy where you are living and dont have to face what we in Bugia face ... becoming 2nd class citizens.
What's your problem with immigrants? Whenever there's a topic on immigrants you always criticise and say that more most be done. Please, tell us what should be done, cause we are missing your point.
It will be interesting to declare your interest here that you may have with a far right political party.
On another note, well done on to the government's determination to organise such programs in helping the civil society to let its voice heard and new ideas raised.
Prosit Ministru. Keep it up!
As for Dar, the project can most certainly be very effective, if we were to keep those not eligible for any status in indefinite detention though, otherwise we can only expect the few handful here and there to leave, which is better than nothing, but nowhere near from enough.
Hear! Hear! This in a nutshell should be Malta’s immigration policy. It should be reaffirmed on every possible occasion.
Doomed from inception. Nobody is trying to gain political mileage out of this. It is simply a fact.
Politicians from both sides of the house are attempting to sugar the bitter pill. But the electorate has now wizened up to these scams and chews the pill and spits it out.