Immigration among priorities for Swedish EU Presidency
The Swedish Presidency of the European Union, which takes over from the Czech Republic in July, will be including immigration among its priorities focusing on trade with Africa to improve the situation in this continent.
Addressing a joint news conference with Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Björling acknowledged that illegal migration was a big problem for Malta but said that Sweden was one of the countries which had welcomed the biggest number of Iraqi refugees and it had turned the situation to one of unique opportunities for the country.
Giving an example, she said Sweden had utilised Iraqi expertise and language skills to train Swedish nationals and improve international trade.
Dr Björling said that other Swedish priorities were the handling of the financial crisis - stimulating trade to avoid protectionism and climate, energy and environmental issues.
Mr Fenech said that Malta's input in stimulating development in Africa was political rather than financial - to convince the European countries to make this a priority.
Earlier in the day, Dr Björling also visited Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
Photo shows Dr Björling with Dr Gonzi this morning. Photographer: Jeremy Wonnacott, DOI
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Damian Galea
Apr 15th 2009, 21:58
The Political commitments pushed by our main MEP and through the Immigration Pact seems to be setting the ball rolling.
I suppose this is a very good sign. Would the veto threat acheive better?
I have serious doubts on that.
Charles Sammut
Apr 15th 2009, 20:44
Go to youtube.com and search "Malmo immigrants".
Then decide for yourself what these "unique opportunities" are.
jimmy vella
Apr 15th 2009, 19:48
They all say that don`t they it`s a priority 6 months from now they will say the same thing then they have a lovely dinner and off we go again till we meet again
Edwin Mifsud
Apr 15th 2009, 18:31
"Sweden was one of the countries which had welcomed the biggest number of Iraqi refugees......"
"....she said Sweden had utilised Iraqi expertise....."
Translation:
We have our own refugees to deal with, so don't expect us to take any of yours any time soon..
emanuel muscat
Apr 15th 2009, 18:22
We had an example from Malmo,Sweden a couple of weeks ago:10 000 islamists attacked the police in a march to ban an israeli tennis player from competing!How about that for integration and tolerance.
D.Galea
Apr 15th 2009, 17:40
Unique opportunities!?! Would you seriously be ready to believe her!? I SO beg to differ!!! Over influx of immigrants I'm not just mentioning Iranians but also Poles, Chileans & Turks has created awesomely huge difficulties for the Swedish social structures & in some ways have completely change some things in the Swedish way of life & how about me saying that they are even starting to change the Swedish language itself with Rinkeby Swedish which is spreading like wildfire around Stockholm's community & thats only just one consequence!
Charles Sammut
Apr 15th 2009, 16:45
"Mr Fenech said that Malta's input in stimulating development in Africa was political rather than financial - to convince the European countries to make this a priority."
I couldn't agree more with Mr Fenech. Africa needs to be weaned from the aid addiction afflicting the continent. What's more, much of this aid gets stolen and ends up in the pockets of those who need it least.
It is ironic that two of the ships which were hijacked by pirates in the last few days were carrying aid to African countries. If that is not an eyeopener, I don't know what is.