'Malta has a disproportionate immigrant population'

If the EU's immigrant population were proportionately divided according to the member states' surface area, Malta would only be allocated about 100 illegal immigrants, the Emigrants' Commission said in a bid to persuade Europe to share the burden.

The commission quoted figures to prove that, when compared to other EU countries, Malta is overburdened with immigrants - over 11,000, nearly three per cent of the population, have reached the island since 2001, according to government statistics.

In this small island stretching barely over 112 square miles, there are about 40 immigrants per square mile - a total of some 4,500 - alongside the 3,000 citizens crammed into the same space, the commission said in reaction to the EU's new immigration pact that calls for voluntary burden-sharing.

Numerous organisations which work in this field believe the actual figure of immigrants in Malta stands at some 6,000 to 7,000, with many leaving the island and resuming their journey across Europe.

As it made its case for burden-sharing, the Emigrants' Commission elaborated that, since the immigration phenomenon started in Malta, an average of 1,250 immigrants arrived by boat each year.

A record number of landings were registered this year, when the rate of immigrants who entered Malta exceeded the local birth rate, the commission added.

Asked whether such comparisons could fuel racial sentiments, commission head Mgr Philip Calleja replied that, while it could be that there were some racists, "there are also many who sympathise with immigrants".

He insisted that the aim of the commission was to persuade Europe, through the figures, to take on its part of the burden.

For one to better understand the EU's need, if not the duty, to help Malta carry the burden of irregular migrants, it was important to look at the population densities of EU countries, he said.

The three most densely populated countries are Malta with 3,267 people per square mile, followed by the Netherlands with 1,023, and Belgium with 879. The least populated country is Finland with 40 people, while the UK has 639 and Italy 500.

Reacting to these figures, Neil Falzon, local representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the reallocation of immigrants from one EU country to another is a tool for responsibility-sharing.

However, this should be kept separate from member states' quotas for refugees who come directly from third countries, given the far more desperate living conditions of refugees in other parts of the world.

The UNHCR strongly reiterated the need for Malta to encourage and facilitate the effective integration of refugees through targeted programmes on issues such as education, cultural awareness and employment.

Like the UNHCR, the Jesuit Refugee Services supports the government's call for increased responsibility sharing among EU member states.

While understanding the challenges posed by immigration, JRS lawyer Katrine Camilleri said, all people who are in Maltese territory, irrespective of their legal status, are to be treated with dignity and to have their human rights respected.

A Home Affairs Ministry spokesman said the government supports the EU immigration pact as it believes in the need for more support by EU member states to deal with the immigrant problem.