Tuesday, 21st April 2009 - 18:39CET
"The Maltese are in an impossible situation" - Barrot
Jacques Barrot being greeted by Carm Mifsud Bonnici during his recent visit to Malta.
Comments by EU Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jacques Barrot on the standoff between Malta and Italy over illegal migrants have been welcomed by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.
Barrot was quoted as saying by Agence Europe that he was delighted that the migrants were safe but the problem remained in that, within the European Union, there had to be much more effective solidarity.
“Certain states that are not as likely to be affected by illegal migration as others must bear a little of their share of the burden by agreeing to accept those migrants who have been granted refugee status,” he said.
“This is a lot to ask and, in the current crisis, it is not easy to persuade governments to agree to share the effort, but ultimately we will have to get there.
The commissioner said he did not want to blame anybody over the standoff but international maritime law stated that those at risk of shipwreck had to be taken to the nearest port with acceptable conditions for receiving them.
“In this case, that was Lampedusa in Italy, but the Italian authorities said that the reception centre at Lampedusa was full. The Maltese authorities said the same of their centre. It's not easy,” he said.
“I understand the two countries' concerns,” he continued. “The Maltese are in an impossible situation, since they have little space to take in even more people. The other European countries have to realise the seriousness of the problem. We have managed to find a solution to this present case … but we have to prevent such massive migration, which, I fear, will lead to many more dramatic situations in the future.”
Mr Barrot said a Commission proposal for a decision on establishing rules on the surveillance of maritime borders was currently being discussed by member states to try to prevent further situations of this kind from happening.
Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said this was a declaration by Mr Barrot that Malta was correct in handling this matter, in that he said that international obligations stated that rescued persons are to be taken to the closest port of call. In this case, that was Lampedusa.
“This is a certificate that Malta was true in what it was saying all along and that the MV Pinar was legally obliged to take the persons that it has rescued to Lampedusa. This was also stated clearly by the captain of the vessel. People should not be left at sea and Italy was obliged to take these people. That’s what it has done in the past decades,” Dr Mifsud Bonnici said.
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sorry Mr/Ms Grech to burst your bubble but although in ideal EQUALITY exists, in the realm of the LIVING, EQUALTIY DOES NOT EXIST!!
No one leaves his country for pleasure (apart from a few adventurers who wouldn't cause demographic problems and else).
To avoid such massive immigration in respect of our own interests, we must ascertain that countries of origin are given a help in standing up. This, is easier said than done, and countries of origin must be held accountable for what they are given for their own good. In a few words, aid must be but more importantly THE RESULTS MUST BE. Much more so, this shouldn't be considered as a reparation for colonial pasts. Independence means one is capable of making decisions for his own future, independence doesn't merely mean self-determination but also self-responsibility. Any aid towards countries of origin should respect this and be based on the principle of the common good of humanity, and those countries which cause problems on others should be held accountable.
EU Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jacques Barrot has stated in plain english what many of us have been saying for so long now.
Since Malta's situation is clearly impossible, it is time for the government to declare that because of this, the country will not bring in anymore illegal immigrants who are rescued at sea. They will be given whatever they need, but must then be taken to another EU country. There are 26 other countries in the EU, all of which are much larger and better able to humanely accomodate these people.
sandra camilleri
sliema
Now that even Barrot has confirmed what we have been saying all along, that we are full up, the govt must not accept any more immigrants no matter what. Otherwise they will be the ruin of our country, our finances and the future of our children.
Second - If the Maltese facilities were saturated where could the pressure be relieved? Do the Italian politicians expect citizens to take in illegal aliens in their homes?
Third Lampedusa could send some of their Illegal aliens to main land Italy which is much bigger than Malta. I’m sure they can accommodate, but I suspect that tainting the main land with more African illegal aliens was not on the agenda for some of the Italian politicians on that day.
The fact of the matter was that the ship was closer to Italy and Italy has much more resources than Malta. I can see that Minister Jacques Barrot acknowledged that Malta can only take so much and eventually other countries will have to start accepting these African illegal aliens. Once the lower states get saturated, more will have to spill into mainland Europe. The EU states that are avoiding this problem, will either face the crises now or later.
Libya may not be part of the EU but it is a member of the UN. it has obligations and humanitarian responsibilities. So far muammar has just sat on the fence and watched Europe struggle with the problem he is causing. The boats which are taking these people to europe are leaving from libyan ports in braod daylight so it's no evcuse saying that libya doesn't have the resources to stop them.
Only by speaking up, one can be heard!!
Barrot said "....to accept those migrants who have been granted refugee status,”
Which is a miniscule fraction of all the illegal immigrants who arrive in Malta.
Of the 145 illegal immigrants rescued by the Pinar, the vast majority were Nigerians. By no stretch of the imagination can these qualify for refugee status. Mind you, Nigerians are exhibiting a unique entrepreneurial spirit in Malta.
Unfortunately because of the prevailing global conditions and because our influence does not move mountains or irrigate deserts the EU countries have to transform solidarity from the archives to tangible and significant assistance.
What will happen when the next boat load of illegals approaches Malta's SAR region ?
Are the other European countries willing to take a share of the burden Malta, Spain and Italy and show solidarity or is going to get to a stage where things happen only if we refuse entry.
Mr. Barrot's words are heaven sent - he has confirmed that Malta cannot accept anymore illegal migrants as we are full. Implicitly he, and therefore the EU, accept that we are facing a crisis and consequently any other refusal to accept migrants on our shores will be more than justified.
Thank you Mr. Barrot.