Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
EU proposal to alleviate migration burden
Immigrants in Malta would be able to seek asylum in other EU states
Any immigrants landing in Malta are effectively stuck in legal limbo.
Illegal immigrants who land in Malta will be able to seek asylum in other EU countries if a European Commission proposal is accepted by member states. The move could significantly alleviate the island's burden.
The Commission is proposing to suspend the EU's contentious asylum seekers' rule - the Dublin II Regulation, which states that asylum applications can only be dealt with by the member state where immigrants first land - for countries facing severe immigration pressures.
The proposal, to be made by the end of the year, must be approved by all EU states before it can be implemented.
This rule is considered to be a major contributor to Malta's troubles in the immigration area, since thousands of illegal immigrants must remain in detention while local officials go through the laborious process of dealing with their applications.
The develpment was revealed by EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot following a series of questions from MEP Simon Busuttil who, along with the government, has been pressuring the Commission on this issue.
Mr Barrot told Dr Busuttil: "In view of ensuring a higher degree of solidarity among member states, the Commission indeed intends to propose a community mechanism which would allow, in well defined and exceptional circumstances, for the possibility of temporarily suspending the application of the Dublin rules for transfers of asylum-seekers to a member state whose reception system cannot adequately deal with the transferred persons."
Mr Barrot added that this mechanism aimed to avoid the burden imposed by the Dublin system on states that have limited reception and absorption capacities and who find themselves under particular migratory pressures because of their geographical position.
"The details of such a mechanism are currently being considered by the Commission and will be included in the proposal for revising the Dublin Regulation, which is expected to be presented before the end of 2008."
The government had already presented proposals to the Commission. However, several member states supported by the Commission itself had resisted the idea - preferring to help Malta through other means, particularly financial handouts and Frontex surveillance missions. The latest declaration by Mr Barrot indicates a change of heart.
Dr Busuttil told The Sunday Times: "EU law will finally be reviewed to take better account of over-burdened member states, like Malta.
"This step has long been overdue. If this proposal is adopted, it will greatly relieve Malta's burden in dealing with the reception of immigrants as they will be able to move to other EU countries."
Asylum applications have risen sharply in recent years as almost all the illegal immigrants arriving on Malta's shores file a claim.
According to UNHCR figures published last month, the number of asylum applicants in Malta trebled during the first six months of this year compared with 2007. Between January and June, there were 1,101 asylum claims, a 177 per cent increase on the 397 received during the first six months of last year.
According to a UNHCR study, the Dublin II Regulation needs substantial revision to ensure the rights of asylum seekers and refugees are respected.
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11 Comments
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Matt Rust
Nov 10th 2008, 18:23
Dear Scerri S. - you are quite right, the rest of the world (some of it) is paying attention. I am in Brussels, tracking this situation closely. However I welcome ALL points of view, as it helps me to understand how these pan-European issues look from other parts of Europe. So even if reasonable people might find certain comments offensive, it is all helpful. Really, it is.
Dear Mr. Sammut - your basic point (don't count chickens) is spot-on. However this proposal may not need all states to approve; although I'm not sure, I believe it would go by "qualified majority." Also, it is definitely more than pre-election posturing. This proposal is taken very seriously in Brussels, both by state representatives and EU bodies.
Please, keep this kind of discussion going. One of the more frustrating things about the EU is the difficulty in "hearing" the voices of European society. Thanks to all of you, and please accept my apology that I will not likely participate further in this discussion. But listening!!
Raymond Sammut
Nov 10th 2008, 14:44
This will do nothing to address the problem.
It is all about MEP Simon Busuttil trying to save himself as the June elections start to appear on the horizon. What you will see is a lull in boat arrivals during the weeks preceding the elections. Once he gets voted back in, and renews his EU parliament tenure, the flood will once more burst through the gates of Hay Wharf.
MEP Simon Busuttil has now developed a reputation for playing into the hands of human smugglers, and this very EU proposal would be yet another conduit for their trafficking.
J. Spiteri
Nov 9th 2008, 21:03
@ Scerri. While it may probably be true that Louise Vella has a very big mouth, it"s DEFINITELY true that she also has a big brain and knows how to use it !!
Moses Mula
Nov 9th 2008, 19:36
@Scerri S. I applaude you for your comments. These human beings who had the misfortune of being born in war torn countries should be treated and spoken of as humans and not objects.
@Joseph Cauchi. That are ways and ways to talk about to comment about issues. I have been left in disgust many times by some comments written on these pages in the past. I live in Sweden, were hundreds of thousands of immigrants live here, and even if there are people that make such remarks, the majority talk about this issue, or any other issue, using dignified terms. I am Maltese, and I know how the majority of the people look at other groups. The real problem is not the number of immigrants or the size of Malta, but the unfounded fear of the Maltese that this group poses a threat to Maltese culture. I study International Conflicts and peace and security dilemma at the University of Uppsala, so without wanting to sound like a know it all, I know what I am talking about.
louise vella
Nov 9th 2008, 17:28
There are more than 900 million people in Africa. Unfortunately most of them are poor. We all want them to become rich. But the way is NOT to open Europe to immigrants, legal or illegal, from Africa. If we open Europe's borders 100 million or 200 million of them could come over, bringing down our standard of living.
The solution is to work for the development of African countries which are very rich in raw materials (much richer than Malta) but suffer from endemic bad governance (not Malta's fault). This will unfortunately take a long time. In the meantime we have to control Europe's borders to make sure we get as many of them as we need, and not more. Those that are needed will be legal immigrants. Those that are not needed will not be allowed in. It's a matter of numbers. If 100 a year is all we need, anything above that number would be harmful to Maltese society and the Maltese economy.
The only way to make sure that not too many of them arrive in Malta we need an effective system of border control with patrol boats (NOT gunboats).
Joseph Cauchi
Nov 9th 2008, 15:17
!@ Mr. Scerri S,
Your comments are not fair towards Ms. Louise Vella,
Her comments are correct and it would be of a great benefit for Malta if these comments are read by all those who have the use of the internet. This will give the true picture of Malta vis-à-vis the Illegal Immigrants.
Let us hope that through these columns, an international awareness is raised and the problem of illegal immigrations to our shores will be solved or at least ameliorated!
Well done to Ms Louse Vella for her intelligent contributions to this column.
JCAA.
Charles Sammut
Nov 9th 2008, 14:19
Don't count your chickens just yet.
First of all this proposal must be approved by all EU members. Not likely to happen because most EU countries are not all that enthusiastic about African migration.
Secondly, the number of refugees (as opposed to just plain illegal immigrants) which we get in Malta is only a tiny percentage of the total. What will happen to the failed asylum seekers?
I see this as simply being pre-MEP election waffle well timed to keep us hoping against hope till June 2009.
Scerri S.
Nov 9th 2008, 13:21
@louise vella - While you have a right to be concerned, can you please treat other human beings with more respect? "How many of them will be taken?"..."The more of them taken"... etc. Are you talking about people or 'xkejjer tal-patata'?
Only a few days back you remarked that the EU is expecting us to 'swallow' more of 'them' - or something along those lines. I wonder how many of 'them' you have 'swallowed' - you must have a very big mouth indeed! Probably you translated the maltese idiom - 'nibilghuhom' - literally. Which again goes to show...
Please keep in mind that comments (in english) posted here can be read and understood by anyone in the world having access to the internet. If anyone thinks that only locals stumble upon these comments they're way way wrong...
Pierre Micallef
Nov 9th 2008, 12:49
This is great news - but why break it now?
Simon Busuttil's own webpage says the Commission gave him this answer over two months ago http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2008-5274+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN
Could the next EP elections be around the corner?
Vincent Zerafa
Nov 9th 2008, 12:32
There you go, all of you who try to make fun of those who voice their concerns on the disastrous affect of illegal migration to Malta.
Finally we may be seeing some real action from the EU.. the Dublin II Regulation is totally unfair with states like Malta. I just hope that they will implement it.
So stop falsely accusing citizens of being racist and xenophobic. We were right!
louise vella
Nov 9th 2008, 11:27
1. How many of them will be taken by other countries? When? Which countries?
2. The more of them are taken, the more likely it is that Malta will become a transit camp for illegal immigrants. Do other EU countries need many legal immigrants, especially now that the economic recession will see an increase in unemployment?
3. The real solution is to stop them from coming with an effective border control mechanism. Otherwise there will be no stopping increasing numbers of Africa's 900 million inhabitants from travelling to Europe via Malta or other countries.