EU Commissioner warned of possible cold reception in Malta

EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot has been warned of a possible cold reception during his visit to Malta this week due to a perceived lack of solidarity from the European Union and member states in connection with immigration.

Speaking during a debate on the EU's asylum policy at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil said: "If you are going to try to seek solidarity amid Malta's asylum and immigration problems you will not find any".

"Although solidarity from the EU and, particularly, from the other member states is crucial to solve our problem we have not seen much yet. The only exception is France that has recently declared it will be taking some 80 refugees from Malta. Others, unfortunately, are not following," Dr Busuttil said.

He reminded the commissioner of the clause inserted on Malta's insistence in the European Asylum and Migration Pact so that the EU launched a voluntary resettlement and relocation mechanism. Through such an initiative the EP had already budgeted €5 million to be used this year for a pilot project in this area.

"Until now we haven't heard anything about this from the Commission. What are you waiting for," Dr Busuttil asked.

During discussions on the EU budget last year, the EP approved amendments to raise the allocation of the European Refuge Fund by a further €10 million in 2009, half of it to be used specifically for the setting up and administration of a new Intra-EU Solidarity Mechanism.

According to this proposal, which was also welcomed in principle by the Commission, EU member states would freely determine all aspects of the selection process of refugees wanting to resettle in their territory from another EU member state. The Commission was called upon by the EP to set the framework, issue guidelines, encourage participation and facilitate management coordination of this programme.

The Commission has not yet made its formal proposal.

Mr Barrot is expected to visit Lampedusa and Malta tomorrow and on Saturday.