Maroni claims Malta sent 40,000 migrants to Italy
Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni has accused Malta of having effectively sent 40,000 immigrants to Italy by not participating in their rescue.
The claim is made in a report to EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Jacques Barrot..
The Corriere della Sera says that Mr Maroni is also claiming that Malta failed to intervene 600 times in cases involving migrants at sea.
The newspaper says the most serious spat between the two countries took place last month when the frigate Minerva carrying 76 migrants rescued "in Maltese waters" was not allowed to disembark the migrants in Malta and had to take them to Sicily.
It says that Italy had on several occasions accused Malta of having directed migrants' boats towards Sicily, going back to 2004. It had not intervened 600 times, and as a result, Italy had to receive 40,000 immigrants who should have been taken in by Malta.
The report also includes statistics by the Italian Coastguard which show that in 2008 the Italian forces carried out 186 rescue operations in the Maltese search and rescue area, saving 12,900 migrants.
2007 was slightly better, with the Italian Coastguard having carried out 148 rescue operations, rescuing 6,255.
The report quotes various international conventions and reports Mr Moroni as saying that Italy expected the intervention of the European Commission so that everyone would respect the rules.
"We do not intend to assume responsibility for problems in areas which fall under the responsibility of other countries, especially Malta, which received EU funding for such interventions," Mr Moroni is quoted as saying.
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Joseph Schembri
Apr 23rd 2009, 17:48
40,000 extra people in Malta would mean a 10% population increase. For Italy it only meant a measly 0.07% increase! 40,000 extra people in Malta are the equivalent of almost 6 million more people in Italy! This far right man is quite mad.
P Pace Balzan
Apr 23rd 2009, 08:28
Legislation is very clear . When Malta joined the EU it accepted all the terms and discussed the ones it did not agree to . The question is : Were we prepared to join to EU ? I felt that we were not yet prepared , and that is why I voted against , althought I was in favour of the Malta joining the EU .I feel that the Maltese people had been misled. We rushed to join .
v.pulis
Apr 21st 2009, 22:21
40,000 is one tenth of the maltese population. What maroni wants is for us to take in all the immigrants who venture into our SAR. that means that if a boat is found near Crete it will end up in Malta! the way our SAR is stretched not one single immigrant coming from Libya will reach Europe. They will find themselves in Malta. Before long will would exit the EU and join the African union or whatever it's called.
Dr. Savior Tortell Pisani
Apr 21st 2009, 22:10
This is crazy!
If 40,000 extra immigrants had to enter Malta, then an extra 40,000 immigrants would be dead by now!...
We are stretched to the limit!
We cannot feed them!
We cannot house them!
We cannot tend to their health!
They would have starved to death or died of illness like dogs on the street...
So is this what Mr. Maroni wants? 40,000 people stashed in the space for 5,000?
I personally think that taking them in would have been a worse disaster than letting them drown for a quick painless death! These Italians have some serious short circuits in the upper quarters!
ray pace
Apr 21st 2009, 21:35
Cool Minister....Maroni wants to use this case for his party's political mileage due to the promises he made before the last general elections in Italy and in view of the forthcoming MEP elections. It seems that Maroni, Frattini and the Italian media have a difficulty to understand the reality and the International Maritime Laws....Pity......Our Armed Forces are stretched out to their limits and carry out their SAR work with diligence.....Are Maroni and Frattini criticising their own Italian Military Mission stationed in Malta who help out our own little Maritime and Air Squadron's? Hope not as they are of great assistance to our country. We are not being arrogant as accused by sections of the Italian Media...we are just obeying International law.
Patrick Cilia
Apr 21st 2009, 21:21
This situation has helped to show the need for a more collective effort between the EU27 to support those countries that are most vulnerable and effected by this illegal transportation of human beings...let us helop stem the problem at its source...yes, we should all be aware of the dangers of mass immigration to Europe....this will be a huge culture revolution for all of us!
Anthony Magri
Apr 21st 2009, 20:45
It is useless to point out to Mr Moroni that 40 000 illegal immigrants are too much for Malta. Knowing his character he couldn't care less be they 40 000 or 100 000.it does not matter to Mr Moroni. If I recall well this Italian Minister was described in a very unfavourable manner by the Italian press as soon as appeared on the political scene.
His way of tackling things is dangerous if it were addressed to a country a bit larger than Malta. He wants that Malta, that has to watch a huge area disproportionate with its size, as a consequence, any shipwrecked person has to transported to Malta. That's Moron-i reasoning
Mr Moroni should go to a refresher course in geography and right reasoning.
A.Pulis
Apr 21st 2009, 20:41
Hadu ghalihom bl-ikrah it-Taljani. U ghandhom bicca ragun. Ghax kbar hasbu li jistghu jghaffguna. Marru mqarrqin Minn fuq hemm min qed jghid li ahna bla qalb. Qalulna li ahna zghar imma arroganti! Kien hemm bloggers li ssuggerew li jiddikkjaraw gwerra fuqna!
#44 giordano (154) - lettore
il 21.04.09 alle ore 18:23 scrive:
dichiariamo guerra a Malta
http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=345485
Dawn hbieb jew?!
Viva Malta Maqghuda! Fejn hemm l-ghaqda hemm is-sahha nies! Ara ma ninfirdux f'mument bhal dan ghax nitfarrku!
manwel borg
Apr 21st 2009, 19:53
@ Alexia Schembri
maybe the illegal immigrants can start by teaching mr maroni some manners, and lecture him about the virtues of patience, respect, tolerance, human rights, friendship, diplomacy etc. etc.
his recent rage clearly demonstrates that he needs this opportunity drastically.
alexia schembri
Apr 21st 2009, 19:44
I fail to see the big deal. Italy should know how to learn that illegal immigrants are full of great opportunities. Ask the Swedish minister, Mr Maroni. The least that Mr Maroni could do is to thank us immensely for the huge favour.
john fenech
Apr 21st 2009, 19:35
I am not sure if Mr. Maroni is accusing Frontex with collaborating with our sea patrols to abscond from our international obligations? Otherwise how could we redirect not one boat but 1600 boats? By the way 600 interventions, or boat loads, those not equate to 40000 illegal immigrants!!
By any chance is the Minister expecting that on top of the 12000 that have visited us we should have also accommodated another 40000? And shall we with all the EU assistance limit our detention centre to the same capacity as that of Lampedusa?
Lawrence Martinelli
Apr 21st 2009, 19:34
Allo' - Allo' ...... There they go again !!!!
It's now official.....it's a chronic ailment !!!!
Signor Frattolini is dead set .....Malta has to be a concentration camp !
Signor Maronini wants Malta sunk !
Poor Elephant Italy.....Not being able to hit at Lybia......hits out at "Arrogant" Mouse Malta !
lorry fabri
Apr 21st 2009, 18:55
instead of reporting us to the eu president, Maroni knows what the problem is ,where is frontex, there was so much FUSS,we need action not words,we know that the italians talk too much but i reckon they ought to put pressure where it's needed for the good of both countries,just a footnote since Mr Moroni hails from the lega Nord perphaps he would prefer that US maltese will all emigrate and we will leave malta to the illegal migrants., that way italy wouldn't have any problems.For good sound reason lets all concern put our heads together ,and let's hope that the EU should understand that we are only a tiny island and our space is limited.
joe scerri
Apr 21st 2009, 18:38
Thank your Signor Maroni for highlighting these figures. In this case Malta should re-double its efforts to continue in doing what you are claiming.
The traffickers and illegal immigrants must be having a good laugh at Signor Maroni as they watch him make a complete fool of himself.
Graham Crocker
Apr 21st 2009, 17:43
He claimed that we sent the equivalent of 10% of our population to Italy, yet he/Italy has only spoken now in 5 years.
So either way, he's slow or wrong.
Mike Magri
Apr 21st 2009, 17:38
Mr. Moroni.. You can keep the little EU funds we receive, and thus illegal immigrants also...
Malta being such a small island, it is costing us A FORTUNE trying to keep as best we can some of these unfortunate people...
Stephen Farrugia
Apr 21st 2009, 17:31
@J Mamo
We already have 45,000 new id cards of non Maltese.
Joe Fenech
Apr 21st 2009, 17:30
If the Italians were weak enough to accept them, then congratulations!! Europe should have been saying NO TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION...but it hasn't!! WEAKLINGS!!
Keith Davis
Apr 21st 2009, 17:30
Dear Minister Maroni, don't one think it is absurd saying Malta had to accept 40,000 illegal immigrants, thats 10% of our population.
How would Italy take 5.8 million of illegal immigrants, considering it's population is that of around 58 million?
Where is EU's concrete solidarity in this ?
Brian Borg
Apr 21st 2009, 17:26
40,000 migrants to Malta!!!!!???? ha ha ha ha what a joke..... Mur arana :P
L Micallef Capello
Apr 21st 2009, 17:24
Fejn se nqeghduhom 40,000???? We can abrely support what we already have which is far less than 40,000 as far as I know. Ahseb u ara 40,000 OHRA.
Carmelo(Nenu)Aquilina
Apr 21st 2009, 17:24
Onorevoli Maroni, ara ma tahsibx ghax ahna zghar ser taghmlu li tridu bina l-Maltin. Ahna nies inteligenti daqskom, u li minn dejjen kelna u ghad ghandna biex inkunu kburin!
Rapporti tista taghmel kemm trid biex forsi tintogghob ma' l-Onorevoli habib taghna l-Prim Ministru Berlusconi, ghax minn jaf kif hatfek fuq ic-cucata li ghamiltlu f'din il-kwistjoni bla bzonn!
Ahna l-Maltin irgulija u solidarjeta ghandna bzonn, u mhux min jilabna!
Ahna l-Maltin ilkoll ninsabu qalb wahda mal-mexxeja taghna l-Maltin, ghax is-sewwa jirbah zgur!
Louis Spiteri
Apr 21st 2009, 17:22
Piccoli ma arroganti, i maltesi .... This is how Maria Giovanna Maglie speaks of the Maltese on this website q.v.
http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=345270
louise vella
Apr 21st 2009, 17:12
According to the Italians, we should have 40 000 more illegal immigrants in our detention centres.
I have often invited Maltese do-gooders to tell us how many illegal immigrants they want to welcome in Malta. They never gave a number. Now Maroni has come up with a figure -
40 000. So I ask the Maltese do-gooders a more precise question: do you agree that Malta should hold 40 000 illegal immigrants over and above what it already has?
J Busuttil
Apr 21st 2009, 17:11
Roberto Maroni the Italian Home Minister who hails from the LEGA NORD PARTY is saying the same remarks as some commentators of this website say that is let the illegal immigrants continue with their voyage to Italy and not rescue them. These same commentators moan because of some left over immigrants who make it to MALTA. So when you comment pl. comment constructively. Ghax il-Gvern dejjem jaqlahha kemm jekk jilbes il-glekk u kemm jekk jinzghu.
K. Vella
Apr 21st 2009, 17:10
Altro che fratelli d'oltre mare!
A Zammit
Apr 21st 2009, 17:07
OH no... that's unfair!!.... :-)
louis attard
Apr 21st 2009, 17:03
Is there somebody in authority ready to explian to the EU why we have such a big area for search and rescue.Mr. maroni accusing a midget country of not respecting search and rescue is not good enough.Ask him to visit us so he can tell us where to put 40.000 people with the other 410.000.Maybe 100000 can emigrate to the belpaese!
Joanne Micallef
Apr 21st 2009, 16:57
The AFM have very limited resources, most probably when the Italians intervened it was because our patrol boats were conducting another rescue operation. I’m sure the AFM will issue a statement to clarify this fact.
Besides I also hope that it is obvious to everyone including the Italians that our country would fall under the pressure of an influx of 40,000 in a year
Keith Aquilina
Apr 21st 2009, 16:57
LOL @ Maroni !
J Xerri
Apr 21st 2009, 16:53
.... and Mr Ban Ki-Moon stated that the matter has been "resolved "amicably" between the two countries."
bryan sullivan
Apr 21st 2009, 16:51
mr moroni should have heard EU justice and home affairs commissioner barrot state on italian rai that immigrants in distress should be taken to the nearest port of call ie. the immigrants are taken to italy if closer to italy than other countries. can you understand this very simple concept moroni
lgalea
Apr 21st 2009, 16:49
This must certainly be the joke of the millenium.
Or would the saying "Whom the gods destroy, they first make mad" be more appropriate?
Even if this was the case, would Moroni want us to take in 40,000 illegal immigrants?
What would the Italians say if suddenly they found out that they had been invades by some 5.6,000,000 illegal immigrants? (1 illegal immigrant in Malta = 140 in Italy)
Don't be a moron Moroni.
As for eu funds you can take them because we do not want eu funds to keep illegal immigrants in Malta but want NO illegal immigrants in Malta.
duncan Tanti
Apr 21st 2009, 16:47
If its true which i doubt ,there is only one thing to say.well done to everyone involved.hope we send another 40000 this year.
N. Camilleri
Apr 21st 2009, 16:44
I now expect a formal, serious reply by Maltese authorities to Mr. Moroni's claims.
PS: Shall we invite Mr. Moroni for a holiday in Malta, and give him free accomodation at either B'Bugia or Marsa?
james grech
Apr 21st 2009, 16:44
halli ghat taljani biex jeqirdu u jhawdu!
Michelle Dali
Apr 21st 2009, 16:41
Why did it take all these years for the Italians to 'realise' that 'Malta had sent 40,000 illegal immigants to Italy'? Perhaps because it is a big lie and they only came up with this false claim in an attempt to make Malta look bad after the recent incident, when by their actions, they caused a humanitarian crisis.
It seems to me that the Italians not only are unwilling to 'burden share' in compliance with the recent pact which was signed by EU member states, but instead they are doing everything they can to force Malta to take all the illegal immigrants picked up in the Mediterranean, something they know will be the end of our beloved country as we know it! Shame on them! They are supposed to be our friends.
What amazes me most is that Libya, who is responsible for sending these people on these illegal journeys is allowed to continue to do so without any reprimand from either Italy, the EU, the UN, or any of the many NGOs involved in trying to help illegal immigrants.
Steven Brockwell
Apr 21st 2009, 16:39
WELL DONE MALTA SEND THEM ALL ON THERE WAY. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HERE ANYWAY. IF ITS A PROBLEM THEM LET THE EU HANDLE IT SINCE THEY SAY THEY HANDLE EVERYTHING?? Z..............I
d. borg
Apr 21st 2009, 16:38
Is this the joke of the year? 40,000 more migrants when Malta's population is 400,000. Why don't we just move out and let them have the whole island. Ma ndahqux ta. Something has to be done before the start of summer.
A. Vassallo
Apr 21st 2009, 16:38
Were is the Honorable Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Moroni living? He must be out of his mind or simply just trying to be very funny. Silvio please take note.
Paul Muscat
Apr 21st 2009, 16:37
I Think Libya sent 40,000 migrants to Italy not Malta !!!!!
Patrick bellia
Apr 21st 2009, 16:36
Haqqek it tapiro D'oro Maroni fuq din nahseb narawk fi striscia la notizia
D Ellul
Apr 21st 2009, 16:36
Maroni does not realise that we have a population of 400,000. I suggest he plays the bully with someone else.
K Farrugia
Apr 21st 2009, 16:35
Let's say it is true that Malta did send 40,000 imigrants to Italy...can you imagine 40,000 imigrants in Malta which only has a population of 360,000? Quite a high percentage and rather shocking! Don't Italy realise that we're, in the famous words of JPO: "Full up".
Andrew Mangion
Apr 21st 2009, 16:34
40,000 is equivalent to 10% of the Maltese population. Italy are still a long way to be in a similar situation like Malta if they receive the same percentage. Their population is around 60 million, 10% of it is 6 million so 40,000 should be a minor issue especially since most of them continue their journey to other EU countries.
paul vella
Apr 21st 2009, 16:33
Signor (or Dottor) Maroni. TELL IT TO THE MARINES!!! It seems he is unaware of the Italo -Swedish business opportunities that can crop up if he contacts the Honourable Swedish Minster who recently honoured us with a visit that confirmed what Europe's 'so called' solidarity is all about!!
Joseph Cauchi
Apr 21st 2009, 16:33
This would spell the end of Malta as we know it today, if the allegation as quoted by Sig. Maroni is correct!
God forbid if this is true; otherwise we are FINISHED!
AMEN.
../..
Patrick bellia
Apr 21st 2009, 16:32
Kieku Mr/Mrs/Ms J Mamo ikollna gqwerra civili, nigu bhall xi pajjiz bhas sri lanka fejn hemm it tigri tamil imbghad forsi ghax ma nafx tibda tiehu azzjoni vera l EU
Patrick Bellia
Apr 21st 2009, 16:29
Is this really a Minister? can he tell us where Malta shall keep 40,000 illigals immigrants? If he wants I think that everyone here agree hope also the political parties that we have here , we will refuse the EU funding SO WE WILL NOT LET THEM ENTER HERE, and so we will shut you your mouth Mr Maroni
R Dimech
Apr 21st 2009, 16:28
Wowww!! Just imagine 40,000 more illegal landings during the last 5 years!
What Sig Maroni fails to mention is that we just happen to be in the way. Not one single one of them wanted to come to Malta. They were all attracted to Europe, of which the Italian peninsula conveniently juts out southwards. He wants us to act as a filter!
M Buhagiar
Apr 21st 2009, 16:27
So now they are accusing us of not rescuing immigrants, when it is not the first time that we had to cary their burden and save immigrants which should have been saved by them. It seems that we are now beginning to 'see the advantages of being a full eu member'!!!
N.Grima
Apr 21st 2009, 16:24
As an accountant, my opinion about lawyers is rather low... But one thing I know - Maltese lawyers are great at their job, and they will easily beat the Italians on this one. Italy is (1) confusing international law with maritime conventions; and (2) confusing the duty to save seafarers in distress with guarding the EU territories. The only problem with this is the slandering all Italian newspapers and television stations have embarked upon... totally uncalled upon and seriously damaging for tourism.
J. Mamo
Apr 21st 2009, 16:20
Mur arana b'xi erbghin elf immigranti illegali hawn Malta!!!