Need for burden sharing stressed

Sandro Zahra

Mar 1st 2009, 11:20

i think there is a misprint .... the value should be 800 .....

Raymond Sammut

Feb 28th 2009, 20:25

@ David Teuma

The six million migrants you are referring to are French speaking people from the ex- and present French colonies -- many of which are African and Pacific islands -- who migrate legally to France. A similar situation exists in Spain to where many Spanish speaking people from Latin American countries emigrate legally, and have been doing so since WWII.

This legal migration has never been an issue, and is not an issue here. The issue here is illegal immigration perpetrated by human traffickers and the lure of accessing illegally the EU labour market and welfare system under the disguise of asylum seeking which is mostly fraudulent.

A. Mizzi

Feb 27th 2009, 21:41

Whilst one cannot but praise French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, and the French imitative towards voluntary burden sharing, I hope that one must be careful in the media coverage given to this very kind gesture as it could have the adverse effect of attracting more immigrants to Malta as a gateway to France and other E. U. Member states, who are still dreagging their feet or are still reluctant for voluntary burden sharing with Malta.

d. borg

Feb 27th 2009, 19:58

Kif spiccajna, nitkarbu biex forsi xi hadd mill-Ewropa johdilna ftit mill-immigrati. 80 mill eluf li hawn - qatra fl-ocean. Dan li hadna mill-Ewropa - x'solidarjeta eh?

m.muscat

Feb 27th 2009, 19:37

It has now become customary for European heads to come here and tell us what we want to hear. We have heard the same tune and danced to the same music on several occasions. They are very much aware of our concerns and of our constant begging to help us alleviate the problem but to date, very little if any has been achieved. If as they say and preach, and made us believe, that burden sharing would be put into effect, than they should put their words where their mouth is and start putting into effect their "gentlemanly voluntary agreement". For us, procrastination is no solution and it only helps to raise the people's expectations and subsequently, leads to further frustration.

Malta rightly expects its european counterparts to come to terms with the situation. Promises only are not enough - immediate action is what is needed. There is no doubt that we will soon be faced with more boatloads of these illegal immigrants knowing very well that the problem would accelerate and tension would reach new heights. Europe should come to terms with the situation and reciprocate Malta's gigantic efforts to accomodate these unfortunate people to have a better living.

G Darmanin

Feb 27th 2009, 19:18

> Dr Borg THANKED France for its gesture in accepting 80 immigrants from Malta the
> highest number ever taken by a European country so far.

Thankyou France for your kind gesture!!!! What a tragic joke!

Luciano Busuttil

Feb 27th 2009, 19:03

When I asked him point blank what plans France has in the short run to help us in sharing our burden he avoided to answer the question.!!

J Sciberras

Feb 27th 2009, 18:41

I hundred percent agree with previous comment (Michelle Dalli)….true Bla, Bla Bla…..
Unfortunately we are left alone facing this problem! When is our Government going to wake up and start putting proper pressure on E.U.
Being members to me means being equal…not if you’re a small island your partners do not bother about you.
Wake up Government wake up

Joseph Brincat

Feb 27th 2009, 18:31

Hon. Minister Kouchner, I do not believe that the other EU countries will heed your suggestion of burden sharing. They might promise a lot, but that's the most they would do.

I would have believed you more if you had suggested that the EU is thinking of reintroducing Madame Guillotine for all those involved in these human trafficking.

David Teuma

Feb 27th 2009, 18:17

Mr Dali

You really should check facts before you speak. At the last count France had some six million migrants apart from those that enter her borders illegally every day. So all in all France is doing it's bit.

Joseph Calleja

Feb 27th 2009, 18:15

OK, so it's only 80 but that's a start. The main thing is that Minister Bernard Kouchner recognizes the seriousness of the illegal immigration in Malta and he brought it out in the open. He agrees that all 27 EU states should share the burden with Malta, maybe he can pass this information on to the EU and UNCHR bigwigs.

David Seychell

Feb 27th 2009, 17:52

"Dr Borg thanked France for its gesture in accepting 80 immigrants from Malta - the HIGHEST number EVER taken by a European country so far."

Wow!! I'm impressed!!! France, a country 1,726 times the size of Malta PROMISED that one day, it will take not less than 80 immigrants! Burden sharing, as a solution, SURELY looks VERY promising! It is so promising that we shouldn't even waste our time in considering other alternatives!

Charles Micallef

Feb 27th 2009, 17:24

Does the Hon. French Foreign Minister mean sharing the burden equally? ...............

.................and if so when is France going to accept their equal share and relieve Malta of part of the burden?

Michael Gatt

Feb 27th 2009, 17:17

How right was the PL when they stressed that we should not have accepted ,volontery burden sharing but enforced burden sharing and in writing so that no one can bring any excuses or interprit it in another way..

E.Camilleri

Feb 27th 2009, 17:02

To Minister Bernard Kouchner
EU MAINLAND - STOP CREATING the demand and the illegal immigration will dwindle down.
What are 80 when they come in boat loads? Its worse than not taking any at all, cause this will give hope to thousands of others to chance it, worsening the problem for Malta which is on the frontline. EU stop this farse of burrying your head in the sand. MALTA you are on your own to solve your MALTA problem ! Its written on the wall.

Michelle Dali

Feb 27th 2009, 16:56

'French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner this afternoon spoke on the need for burden sharing in the problem of illegal migration to be spread from the south of the EU to the north.'

More bla, bla, bla...

Has the promise of taking a mere 80 illegal immigrants materialised yet? Probably not. Anyway, let's face it, what difference will 80 make when they are now arriving in boatloads of hundreds at a time?