Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Barrot suggests stronger EU support for Malta
Fresh from last week's visit to Malta, EU Justice Commission Jaques Barrot has written to his colleagues insisting that Malta needs immediate and long-term help both from the Commission and the EU member states.
According to the information note sent to the College of Commissioners by Mr Barrot, "due to its small size and population density" Malta is having to carry a disproportionate burden which needs to be addressed by the EU on the "short, medium and long term".
The Commissioner suggests that the EU Executive should consider increasing financial help to the island and tackle the issue with a stronger political will.
"The southern maritime frontier is not only the point of entry for these two countries (Italy and Malta) but for all of Europe," the note says. "Thus, a global (EU) response is necessary and a strong political initiative is to be taken and formalised in the short, medium and long term."
From the financial point of view, he suggests the granting of added funds to help in repatriation efforts and to improve the country's reception facilities for migrants and asylum seekers.
"The situation of Malta deserves a particular approach considering its small size and the high population density. Thus, the island should be given resources which go beyond the allocations already granted."
Burden sharing initiatives on an EU level are also in Mr Barrot's plans.
In this area, he tells commissioners that there is a need to accelerate the setting up of a new Asylum Agency, which can help overburdened member states to cope better with influxes of illegal immigrants. In addition, the EU's joint patrols coordinated by Frontex need to be organised better to increase their effectiveness.
"The Commission needs to assure a better organisation of joint Frontex operations notably through the adoption of better guidelines and rules of engagement and more surveillance of the southern maritime borders. Sub-agencies of Frontex should be established in the regions most affected and a surveillance system is to be put in place on the southern Libyan frontiers together with joint patrols in Libya's territorial waters."
The engagement of Libya, which so far has proved to be difficult, needs to be tackled by a stronger political will, according to Mr Barrot.
With regard to Libya and other countries of origin and transit, Mr Barrot says that the EU needs to mobilise all its political and external instruments to make sure that these countries cooperate particularly through readmission and return agreements.
The commissioner also suggests the setting up of intra-EU relocation programmes in which EU member states can share the burden of asylum seekers and refugees with the overburdened member states. Funds through the European refugee Fund can be made available for such programmes.
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Kaydee Zammit
Mar 20th 2009, 22:48
Joe Vella (Mellieha)
It amazes me how you manage to take each comment out of context and interpret it at your own free will. At no point did I see in Mr. Galea's comment that he said he didn't care about human lives! Not all the immigrants in Malta are refugees, and if have not realized that by now then you are not well-informed enough to comment. Furthermore, those who ARE refugees will have to be shared equally by the EU countries, if we are to stay loyal to the conventions that bind us to this ludicrous helplessness. Burying one's head in the sand does not a wise man make. Ignorance of a problem has never been the seed of wisdom.
Eric Soames
Mar 20th 2009, 16:16
Joe Vella (Mellieha.): 'Don't tell you do not give a damn about human lives and that it is their problem'. It might well come to that once people's backs are up against the wall.
Joe Morana
Mar 20th 2009, 15:56
Mr. Barrot: Please forget 'burden-sharing', it is an archaic phrase; never worked, never will! Forget about buying out the do-nothing Maltese Government with more funds. Any investment made to accomodate illegal immigrants only encourages more to come. Come summertime bodies washing ashore on our beaches will outnumber tourists. What Malta needs is the combined Air Forces of all European nations to stop by, pick up and start repatriating illegal immigrants back to whichever contry in Africa they cae from!
louise vella
Mar 20th 2009, 15:04
Barrot's letter is only a letter and will be judged by the result. In any case rather than a hotch potch of measures we need to put the priorities in their proper order:
First a much stronger FRONTEX to prevent illegal immigrants from coming or to downplay the invasion
Second repatriation to show the millions waiting on the shores of Libya that coming to Malta does not pay
Third relocation through burden sharing of genuine refugees.
So far Barrot seems to think that giving Malta money is enough to give the EU leverage over the detention policy and detention centres. By the way how much of the money is going to the NGOs?
Etienne Bonanno
Mar 20th 2009, 13:53
How often have we heard the same empty words? The same vague promises and the same contradictory assertions? Is this the price exacted by Dr. Gonzi for Malta's support for Barroso's second term? If the price consists exclusively of this letter then it is a cheap price indeed.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Mar 20th 2009, 13:48
@ L. Galea
Burden Sharing and and repatriation flights are not the same thing and compliment each other. One is not the substitute of the other.
What are you gong to do with those that are accepted as refugees? Certainly they cannot be repatriated as they will be putting their lives in danger. Don't tell you do not give a damn about human lives and that it is their problem.
lgalea
Mar 20th 2009, 10:12
It is not burden sharing that we need but repatriation flights.