Albert Gauci Cunningham, Buġibba
Immigration Pact needs to be signed
A number of politicians, including the Leader of the Oppostiton, have called on the Prime Minister not to sign the Immigration Pact. I find myself in total agreement with The Times editorial and Alternattiva Demokratika when they described this position as "folly" for the simple reason that there is no legal or political possibility by which we could oblige other sovereign countries to take our immigrants in a "compulsory" burden sharing, at least as things stand today. Even if this ever becomes possible I very much doubt the readiness of the Maltese people to accept being told by other much bigger countries what immigrants to take.
A second reason why failure to sign is the worst of the two "evils" is because most EU countries are not as hesitant about this pact as we are and if we threaten to veto it they might very well do the same and prolong the signing to their leisure and individual needs which would leave us where we stand today if not worse.
The pact might not be enough on its own but it can build a sounder basis on which our leaders, both Nationalist and Labour, could egg other EU politicians on to help and show real solidarity. It’s already being done with the US and Holland on a voluntary basis and though the numbers aren’t significant more of these "agreements" could result in much more tangible help.
It would be totally pathetic if Dr Gonzi did not sign the pact as this would leave us in a dangerous political vacuum where we stamp our feet to a Europe unwilling to grant a centimetre to anyone on the "compulsory" burden sharing issue. Is this right? Of course not, but it is in this reality that we have to work hard to make this pact a success and to reap its fruits. The option of not signing is such a non-starter that its proponent, when asked what he would do if in government, failed (miserably) to suggest a concrete alternative route.
So to Lawrence Gonzi: sign it and remember that signing is only the beginning of much harder work in the coming weeks.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
7 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Denis Catania
Oct 16th 2008, 08:30
Mr Cunningham, I hope you are right. I'm not rooting against this plan, I just have doubts. I pray that this works out for us. If in the next few months Holland and other EU countries start taking the burden from the Maltese Islands, I will be happy and satisfied. Voluntary burden was in place, but nobody volunteered. As far as my protest. I think it helped and worked so far. The government came out and talked to us in New York. The demonstration was cut to one day from the original two days, because they did come out and talked to us.The Prime Minister through the Ambassador to the United Nation accepted our petition and our pleas.They also put that in writing, that the petition was handed to the Prime Minister.Now we sit and wait. I just worry that the EU will stab us in the back again. I'm I saying that the demonstration caused this demands for the burden sharing on this pact,NO. Did the demonstration hurt the cause, NO. If anything it helped. In seven years the government finally started getting tough. Is it a coincidence, that the demonstration was announced &happened and they got tough, MAYBE
Albert gauci cunningham
Oct 15th 2008, 17:40
@ Denis Catania
Is it true or not that there is no possibility for Malta to demand a "compulsory" agreement??
Is it true or not that if we don't sign the agreement others will follow suit and we will have thrown this pact and got NOTHING out of it??
Is it true that the EU through the work of S.Busuttil has already planned to give 5 million euros to help countries integrate these people through this mechanism??
Is it true or not that the "voluntary agreements" with the US and Holland have proved to be of a benefit ( only a drop I know but nonetheless)??
What good have your protests been Mr.Catania?? What results have they brought?? What better option do you propose instead of the Pact ??
Denis Catania
Oct 15th 2008, 15:53
Mr. Albert Gauchi Cunningham you write ( I very much doubt the readiness of the Maltese people to accept being told by other much bigger countries what immigrants to take.) This is a joke, as it is already happening. They do tell us who to take. Where have you been living? They first call the AFM and tell us where they are, sometimes 150 miles out of Malta and how many of them, and we have no choice but to take them. Please Mr Cunningham try to fool someone else. Us Maltese are smarter than you think we are.
l Galea
Oct 15th 2008, 15:49
J Martinelli
I repeat it because that is what the pact is.
As to my position, it is that of the vast majority of people in Malta.
J Martinelli
Oct 15th 2008, 15:14
@ I Galea
We are so glad you may know something about Chamberlain. You keep repeating the same comment at every blog and every opportunity. Can you not be a bit original or have you copied the comment so that you can paste it anywhere the subject of the Immigration Pact is discussed?
Is your position identical to Joseph's or to George Vella's?
MArvin Mizzi
Oct 15th 2008, 15:01
The signing of the pact would just make Malta the Joke of the EU. Veto the Pact or the other countries share the obligations or we do not adhere to our obligations. We have to have our voice heard!!!!!!!!
l Galea
Oct 15th 2008, 13:35
Signature of a Chamberlain paper is useless