Monday, 13th October 2008
Migration pact will embarrass uncooperative EU states - PN
Acting Prime Minister Tonio Borg
The Immigration and Asylum Pact due to be signed by EU leaders this week will put uncooperative member states in an awkward position, Acting Prime Minister Tonio Borg said yesterday.
Speaking at a party activity in Msida, Dr Borg said the pact meant that Malta will no longer be alone knocking on doors asking member states to share its burden. Moreover, Malta would also have the European Commission assisting it in applying pressure on member states to take up the voluntary scheme.
Dr Borg said the pact was "a good one" because it dealt not only with the integration of refugees and immigrants in member states but also with the prevention of immigration and how Europe can unite in sending back those who had no right to remain in the EU.
The pact also dealt with increased funding for EU countries to better patrol their borders.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco said the rising price of oil would be affecting Malta quite negatively.
It is estimated that airlines could cut the number of seats to Malta by up to 30,000 in the near future.
The aspect of the international recession, he said, was also considerably worrying as it was impacting countries that were the primary markets for Maltese tourism.
The government, along with the Malta Tourism Authority, would be focusing on opening new routes to Malta, keeping in mind which flights were viable in terms of distance.
He explained that over €180 million in EU funds will be invested into bolstering tourism projects and €10 million would be allocated to assisting private industry with sustainable tourism initiatives.
Also, he added, a fund of over €40 million will be used to develop innovation in tourism.
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Comments
Meaning that, Malta will only be able to send the immigrants to other countries if the other countries accept the shipment before it is shipped. And I very much doubt if UNCOOPERATIVE STATES will be embarrased for not accepting said shipment.
Meaning that Malta could be stuck with all those who land or are brought to it's shores forever and a day, or until Malta's demoghraphics change to such an extent, that it would not matter anymore.
What you have said sounds like music to my ears......Gospel truth !
Except one point.......Malta too , like Greece , DOES have a dispersing island.......Filfla !!!
What amazes me is the rigid stance of bullheadedness in this issue manifested by the government. The overwhelming majority of the Maltese urge the government not to vote this pact since we need more concrete and binding agreements, then in the most stubborn and rude manner our fellow politicians are taking us for a ride of a lifetime- or so they think! The public is not stupid! Their position should be to dig in, have it our way or no EU legislation or agreement would be signed by Malta. It is only then where we could have a chance of being heard, it is then where an embarrassment of uncooperative EU states will occur, forcing Brussels to look closer to the matter! But our dear government is quite unwilling of making such a move, so I prefer reading such articles with a pinch of salt and treating them as a joke!
That might be true but only if the uncooperative member states are in a small minority, and that is very unlikely to happen.
Malta's situation is unique in that it is a very small country and has nowhere to send the thousands of illegal immigrants arriving every year unlike other countries, for example, the Canary Islands send them to Spain, Lampedusa sends them to Italy, Greece has 6000 islands in which to keep them.
In my opinion, the government must not sign the pact until Malta's situation is recognised by the EU and legislation is put in place to protect the country from this illegal invasion. The only real protection Malta has at the moment is the winter weather which gives the criminals behind this human trafficking a chance to enjoy the fruits of their lucrative business which seems to go on every summer completely unhindered. This is a riduculous and unacceptable situation.
Government of Malta, stand up and fight for the interests of your country and its citizens!
Starting from our neighbours Italy ... then Spain, France, Greece etc etc .... they signed because they are hoping to get rid of some of their immigrants.
The eastern countries haved less of a problem with immigration ... but I don't imagine Bulgaria and Romania getting red in the face, especially when they are the source of problems in other countries.