Monday, 5th January 2009
Long-term refugees
Malta forces EU to freeze plans for more rights
Malta could not accept 'additional obligations'
The EU has abandoned plans, at least for now, to introduce new legislation granting more rights to refugees because Malta refused to lift its objections to such a move.
EU Council sources said Malta continued to maintain its original stand in refusing to accept the proposed "additional obligations".
Despite various attempts by the outgoing French Presidency, that continued until the very last days of its term at the end of 2008, Malta just would not budge, leaving the EU with no option but to abandoned the plans.
"We needed unanimity to have this new legislation passed and Malta's objections made this impossible. The only option at this stage is to put this dossier in the freeze at least until the new Lisbon Treaty comes into force," the sources said.
Under the Lisbon Treaty, which has still to be ratified by Ireland and the Czech Republic, the issue could be decided by qualified majority. Under the present treaty rules, unanimity is necessary to adopt such legislation.
EU governments are hoping that the treaty, which was initially planned to enter into force by the beginning of this year but met ratification troubles in Ireland, will be in force at the beginning of 2010.
EU sources said that despite various attempts by the French Presidency at the eleventh hour, the other member states failed to convince Malta that the EU's directive for long-term residency should be extended to cover refugees and people granted subsidiary protection - "humanitarian status" - normally given to people who are at risk but who do not qualify as refugees. Most of the refugees and illegal immigrants arriving in Malta are in fact given this type of recognition.
The directive proposed by the EU grants third-country nationals rights which include the same access to employment as EU citizens and the right to move to different member states for work purposes. Currently, such rights are only granted to legal economic migrants who have lived in the EU for five years.
Malta has been objecting to this proposal for a long time, insisting that, due to its small size and geographical position, it is already being overburdened with the migration problem.
In a letter sent to the French Presidency in November, the Maltese government explained that it has faced an influx of asylum-seekers over the last three years and that it could not accept the "additional obligations" that the extension of the directive would bring about.
Malta had proposed amendments but these were opposed by the other member states. These included prolonging the deadline to apply the rules until 2018 or applying the new rules on a voluntary basis.
According to the government, if Malta had to accept the new directive it would translate into issuing permits to 2,300 refugees already on the island. This number is expected to surge as more illegal immigrants arriving on the island are granted humanitarian status.
Home Affairs and Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici had said after an EU Justice Ministers' meeting in November that the proposal, as designed, put immense pressure on Malta and that the island could not exacerbate the migration problem it already faced.
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Comments
How can Malta continue to withstand human trafficking, abuse of the so called "asylum processing", illegality, regularization of illegality because the authorities refuse to return the illegal immigrants to their home countries, and arrogance from the big EU members?
First the EU forced the Maltese authorities to release the illegal immigrants into the community, now the EU want the Maltese authorities to let the illegal immigrants become Maltese residents.
In the meantime we will keep seeing more and more boatloads of trafficked illegal immigrants appearing at Hay Wharf. There will be no end to it for year after year.
Dr Fenech Adami, why did you establish the Commission for Refugees? You knew that George Borg Olivier would never have done such a thing, so why did you do it?
Dr Gonzi, you are not fit to govern. Hand in your resignation, and get out of Castille.
Just goes to show what a dirty document the Lisbon treaty is.
By the Gods, I sincerely hope that the Irish retain their common sense and reject this revolting "treaty".
It does seem that Igalea thinks of the EU is the most negative of terms. He is unable to spot its benefits and seems to spend his entire time launching vitriolic/spiteful statements at anything that is even marginally linked to the EU.
So keep strong dear government as only in this way would the EU start taking Malta's burdens seriuosly.....only if this happens would we see the easing of this phenomenon and hopefully the ""closing"" of the horrible and anti-social scar by the name of rascism!!
That speaks volumes about the quality of our politicants (as compared with real politicians)
What happened to that agreement ?? Have we forgotten all about it as many had predicted??
Having said that, the Anti-Lisbon camp has been proven right, and I would once again like to encourage all those who have not yet signed this petition : http://www.petitiononline.com/NoLisbon/petition.html, to do so, especially since Ireland will be forced to vote again this year.
Hope everyone knows that if treaty passes in Ireland new legislations or directives will pass by a majority not by a consensus. Till now we have the freedom to use veto on aspects which we thing will do us more harm than good.
Lets support the Irish workers for such result.
Political parties of whatever colour who are playing lackey to the eu and illegal immigrants will get their answers on our vote in all elections until they realize that they are our servants, not the other way round.
This afternoon a certain person on Super 1 even tried to justify ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Shame and shame again.
I am afraid that we are now having to manage a small country like you would manage a much big one.
This practice never brought bigger profits for the smaller firm. On the contrary, believe me or not, this always brought hardships.
And I cannot see how Ireland could save us.
Nonetheless, this stand could be meanless, if the Irish vote yes!!!!
Imma the Maltese government priority was just the 6 MEP
That would have led to a decrease in the burden to this island as most of the immigrants would have left!!
But I still care for the Malta of my childhood.
Malta has 1,000th. of the population of the EU........
God only knows how many Millions the E.U. is the size of good old Malta.
With entry into the EU , Malta is now the stepping stone into " UNITED " Europe.
The " Big Box in Bruxelles " should put their money where their mouth is........
Let them pay for the " transit period " the " boat visitors " remain in Malta UNTIL they
accept them into their vast resourceful countries.
Malta can even build Star New Hotels for a short " visit " of the future citizens of the E.U.
I bet they WILL NOT accept to foot the bill.
They'll just keep on talking & talking while Little Malta remains the " stepping stone ".
@ I.Galea....you are right not arrogant.
@ Louise Vella....you also are right.
@ Karl Abela.....Little Malta having "paw-paws" with the Big Boyos in Bruxelles ? ....
Pipe dream !
“Under the Lisbon Treaty, which has still to be ratified by Ireland and the Czech Republic, the issue could be decided by qualified majority. Under the present treaty rules, unanimity is necessary to adopt such legislation.”
So, Malta, including both members of parliament, by approving the Lisbon Treaty has automatically ceded the “unanimity” condition to the “qualified majority” condition!
Is Malta in a position to diminish its powers at the bargaining table of Brussels?
I am afraid that we have again shot ourselves at the foot!
If this is the case, then I pray that the Irish will save us again.
So Help us God.
Quo Vadis Malta?
../..
The Opp betrayed half of the Maltese by voting in favour of something that was elected to vote against. But for the Opp, appearing in favour of the EU and hence having a better chance to win the next General Election, evidently, was more important than defending the National Interest.
Did we send anybody back to Niger??? We have diplomatic relations now. What are we waiting for, finish up the deal.
How can you address someone other than what he or she is?
Or does the truth hurt you Karl?
Just wait until the EU bigwigs take stock of the situation behind our backs and come back with their parallel solution (vide Ireland's NO to the Lisbon Treaty).
The sound of our whining and screaming will not even be heard anywhere in the hallowed EU corridors of power.
...If not through the door - than enter through the window! Thats enough to stuff Carmelo's and Gonzi's ego back in place - while we continue to suffer and suffer.
The bigest problem of all for both Malta and the UK is the fact our governments have ceded the power to control mass immigration to an unelected power, the EU. Had Malta or the UK not joined then we could formulate immigration policies which would be ideal for us, not for the EU. Once again this proves my point, all the benefits are out of the EU - not in it.
There are two real problems.
The first is numbers. A few of any typre can be integrated. But large numbers coming in an ending and endless flow create a crisis. And that's why we have a crisis with illegal immigration.
The second is jobs, especially when job opportunities become scarcer. Illegal immigrants compete with Maltese workers for jobs; they undercut their wages; and they lower their conditions of work.
Let us hope that common sense will prevail! Malta is simply a tiny piece of rock, and with limited resources. The EU has to understand that laws are there for the benefit of people and not the other way round.
Malta should take its quota of refugees and that only! Its impossible to take thousands; that is madness! I encourage the authorities to maintain their stance and protect their people!
We certainly do not appreciate you speaking on behalf of the Maltese people and calling the EU 'FOREIGN ARROGANT COLONIALIST PETTY DICTATORS'....
Your militant talk is testimony to your extreme poltical bias to a party that has lately changed positively....maybe you should follow their example....
Nowadays we discuss issues in a civilised manner not in a militant way.
I cannot understand what all the fuss is about. Actually this directive would serve us better. This will give rights to migrants who have been here for five years. This means that these migrants would have been here anyway for a long time, directive or no directive. This law will give them the right to move to other Member States, which is what they want. and also what we want.
What we have to do is repatriate illegals asap so that do not complete this five year term
EU forces prevent Somali pirate attack
ELITSA VUCHEVA
Today @ 09:27 CET
EU forces in the Gulf of Aden have prevented several pirate attacks in the last few days and arrested more than 25 pirates......
And yet Frontex does not succeed in stopping one single illegal immigrant from coming to Malta!
If France want such a thing, than it should take them permanently all. Why does it have to force other EU countries, especially those burdened, into such things? Such things are only acceptable to Malta if such people have unrestricted freedom of movement within the bloc.
With the Lisbon, we are going to lose a most important thing, the veto. Lets hope the Irish will rise to the occasion again. The Maltese can give a message in the MEPs, remembering that 3 parties favour the Lisbon Treaty.
“The directive proposed by the EU grants third-country nationals rights which include the same access to employment as EU citizens ... Currently, such rights are only granted to legal economic migrants who have lived in the EU for five years.”
The Maltese government’s stance has to be read in the light of today’s editorial in The Times (‘Dull forecasts: Fighting off pessimism’):
“With talk of worsening economic conditions likely to take hold again in no time ... A number of workers have already found themselves out of work and hoteliers, restaurateurs and retailers are reporting a slump in their business”
and a report “Unemployment a social time bomb for Spain” in The Times (3 January 2009) which starts:
“Tensions mounting between native job-seekers and immigrants competing for a declining pool of work in Spain will intensify this year …” (http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090103/world-news/unemployment-a-social-time-bomb-for-spain)
The employment prospects of Maltese workers, and their wages and conditions of work, have to be defended in all circumstances.
So the EU objected to the last but at the same time burden sharing was introduced as on a voluntary basis and we know what happened. Stand fast Malta and be prepared for when the lisbon treaty makes it almost impossible or us to refuse to abide by this rule.
And our politicants rushed to ratify the Lisbon Treaty to get rid of unanimity!!!!!!
They are the perfect example of the proverbial fools who rush in where Angels fear to tread.
Let's pray God that the Lisbon Treaty is never ratified by all the eu members and never comes into effect., otherwise the Maltese Government would not have been able to stop the imposition of giving more rights to ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
Maltese Government, STOP granting any permits for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS to stay in Malta and REPATRIATE ALL that are here.
EU FOREIGN ARROGANT COLONIALIST PETTY DICTATORS, THE MALTESE PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR ARROGANCE AND DIKTAT.