Editorial

The Italian home affairs minister may have unwittingly done Malta a favour. By the manner of his attack on what he described as the government's abandonment of the "commitments it decided to take on through international agreements" and through his appeal to EU Justice Commission Jacques Barrot to intervene, Roberto Maroni has propelled the illegal immigration issue to the very top of the agenda.

With a little luck, actually lots, it will stay there until it is resolved. For although the EU has talked about the issue repeatedly in recent weeks - Mr Barrot has been particularly vociferous in his appeals to member states to realise the seriousness of the problem and "stand four-square with Malta and Italy who bear the brunt of migratory flows from Libya" - there has been little action.

Quite the contrary. Earlier this month it became clear that Frontex, the EU's anti-migration patrol mission, had once again been delayed due to what were vaguely described as "technical difficulties" - which was polite speak for a disagreement between Malta and Italy over the rules of engagement.

Although in the past Frontex operations have had as much effect on stemming the immigration tide as a drop in the proverbial ocean, Mr Maroni made the wildly optimistic statement that once the patrols did eventually begin no more illegal immigrants would reach Italian shores.

A cynic might be tempted to suggest, in the light of his comments in recent days, that he made such a statement because he expected them to land in Malta instead. Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici is certainly having none of it.

Although acknowledging that the illegal immigrants at the centre of this dispute between the two countries got into difficulties within Malta's search and rescue area - it was the overstretched Maltese forces, after all, who co-ordinated the operation once the migrants boarded a Turkish ship - Dr Mifsud Bonnici pointed out that they should be taken to Lampedusa, which is the nearest safe port.

Contrary to Mr Maroni's assertions, this is precisely what the international conventions state, not just in relation to illegal immigrants - but for anyone who is stranded or in danger at sea. Would the Italian minister have made a similar argument if a group of Europeans were stranded in the same position on a private yacht? Hardly; Italy would have happily looked after them. Which is why his argument makes little sense. Apart from that, Malta is just doing what has hitherto been unobjectionable practice for a number of years.

The Labour Party is, refreshingly, supporting the government's stand on this issue and insisting that it should not give in. This is the correct route, though not, as the PL is also saying, because the time has come for the national interest to be first and foremost. It is correct because the government is standing up for the national interest while at the same time honouring its international obligations.

In the midst of this diplomatic furore it is all too easy to forget the immigrants, some of whom are seriously injured and all of whom are traumatised. This is another tragedy, and the UNHCR has pleaded with both countries to let them land. But the reality is that only one country can. Morally, definitely, and legally, most probably, that country is Italy. When it reacts to Mr Morroni's complaint, the EU must ensure it drives this point home.