Wednesday, 22nd April 2009 - 14:13CET
Updated: EP adopts Busuttil Immigration report - All Maltese MEPs vote against 'right to vote' clause
UPDATED 4.30 p.m.
The European Parliament today adopted an own-initiative report by MEP Simon Busuttil on a Common Immigration Policy for Europe, by 485 votes in favour, 111 votes against and 19 abstentions.
Welcoming the adoption of the report, MEP Simon Busuttil said that the text charts the way forward for the fledging European immigration policy which had been moving in fits and starts over the past decade.
“What we have today is a fragmented policy. My report calls for a coherent policy,” Dr Busuttil said.
The report warns that “unless Europe moves urgently ahead in forging a common immigration policy, it risks being overtaken by events.” It adds that “dramatic events around us have proved that we are already late.”
The key points of the report include the following:
· The human tragedy that is taking place as a result of illegal immigration must be stopped once and for all.
· The burden-sharing mechanism envisaged in the Immigration Pact must be rapidly implemented and transformed into a binding and permanent instrument.
· Emphasis on returns must be strengthened and third country nationals who are illegally staying must leave or be returned.
· All EU agreements with third countries must include chapters on immigration.
· The Frontex agency must be further strengthened both in terms of its financial resources as well as in terms of its capacity to act.
"Efforts must be redoubled to fight against organised crime and human trafficking. During today's sitting the Socialist and Green groups in parliament still managed to insert a reference calling for migrants to have the opportunity to vote, a clause resisted by Dr Busuttil and the EPP group.
Dr Busuttil tabled an alternative resolution to the report which removed this reference, but this did not go through since the Socialists and Greens voted against it.
“I did my best to remove the unnecessary call for voting rights for migrants, which in any case remains exclusively a matter for individual countries to decide. However, the Socialist majority prevailed on this,” Dr Busuttil said in a statement.
“In Malta the Labour Party shuns immigration and plays the veto card, but in Brussels the Socialists play a different tune and want to give migrants voting rights,” he said.
LABOUR REACTION
The Labour Party in a reaction to Dr Busuttil's statement said the Nationalist MEP was being politically dishonest by trying to give the impression that the Labour MEPs had voted in favour of illegal immigrants being given the right to vote.
This was completely untrue and the Labour MEPs had voted against the granting of the right to vote to illegal immigrants.
Indeed, the Labour MEPs had always voted in the same way as the PN ones.
The Labour MEPs in a declaration with their vote said they did not view the EU Immigration Pact as being sufficient for Malta and the Busuttil report did not make a clear and direct reference for mandatory burden sharing. They also insisted that they were against the granting of the right.
The PL also pointed out that while the PN tried to give the impression that it had a strong voice within the EPP, the recent dispute on migration was with Italy, where the biggest governing party was a member of the EPP.
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Comments
With regard to the others, some commentators have linked the payment of taxes with such a right. Isn't this equivalent to buying votes? I am under the assumption that voters vote for the well being of their own country. How many believe that those allowed to stay would vote with this in mind?
Furthermore in a country like Malta where elections, whether general or local, are decided by a few percentage points (or less), does it make sense to give voting powers to any ethnical group?
This includes anyone from the nice American lady who lives up the road, to the German couple who have decided to retire in Gozo, to the Somali man who has been recognised by the Maltese government, the EU and the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) as a refugee, and therefore a Maltese citizen.
Asylum seekers whose refugee status is still pending (i.e those penned up in Hal Far) do not get to vote because they are not legally recognised as Maltese citizens.
Any migrant who is granted refugee status is allowed to work (and therefore pay taxes) and should therefore be allowed to vote. No taxation without representation. Those whose status is yet to be determined do not avail of this right.
As a Maltese living in Ireland, I am regularly embarrassed by the racism of some of my compatriots.
One cannot fool fools - they are already there.
(Dionne & Friends: Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder)..
Or are you still stuck with the only way is up??!?!?!?!
EVERY Maltese citizen FEARS the consequences of further immigrants entering into Malta let alone being given the same rights as us!
THANK YOU TO SIMON BUSUTTIL FOR REPRESENTING EVERY MALTESE CITIZEN AND FOR VOTING AS EVERY MALTESE CITIZEN WOULD!
Ur right - now its 'Malta l-ewwel ..............jekk jaqbel lili!!!
And to all those saying that the PL didn't manage to convince the PES, I ask, do you really think the PPE voted as it did because they were convinced to by Simon Busuttil?? If you really believe that then I'm sorry for you because you cannot be more gullible than that. Your Simon was just trying to make political mileage out of the situation, but facts quickly exposed his lies, and you were left looking like fools.
The PN has been in Government all this time yet it proved INCAPABLE of solving the immigration problem. Now they want to blame it on the PL? HAHAHA.
Go ahead now, urge everyone to vote PN. Maltese people, vote PN if you want a Malta full of immigrants!!!
Can Mr.Busuttil indicate how many reports he has submitted expect this one? Anyone guessing?
The answer is a big ZERO! No wonder all this noise about one report! The times and NP side want to show that Simon is working very hard - Miskin
Moreover, though the PL is part of Eusropean Socialists, the PL has the guts to go against the flow and vote for Malta first and not for the ideology of some other country. So people like G. mangion, James Formosa, et al should notice that by riding the PN's bandwagon of lies is just idiocracy.
But I’m glad that most of the people immediately understood what is right from ridiculous even if others (I’m not even bothered to name since it’s just too obvious) are way too much pretentious and narrow-minded.
Seriously.. where have you been living Mr Fenech? During the last 4 years Dr Busuttil has been the ONLY MEP who has been incessantly working in Brussels to try and find a solution and to get the EU to help Malta. How do you think he came up with the Immigration report if he has done nothing? (incidentally just in case you have not realised he was appointed to write the report by his counterparts there)
A Maltese national living abroad CAN'T vote in the Maltese elections which is different to the policies many European countries have!
You've been the Maltese frontman in Europe and NEVER did anything to defend Malta! All you've done is give us a lot of chit chat which, very frankly, we don't need!
SHAME ON YOU!
Il - Verita Twegga !
Welldone again to MEP Simon Busuttil.
..............and I'd like numbers and names please!!!!
PL's reaction is very, VERY CLEAR... PL MEP's DID NOT..... Repeat.. DID NOT.. vote in favour of illegal immigrants having a right to vote....
SO WHYYYYY ALL THIS POLITICAL SPINNN, DR. BUSUTTIL & 'LA BELLA' KUMPANIJJA.....!!!???!!!???
WHOM ARE YOU TRYING TO FOOL THIS TIME....!!!???!!!???
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO I-N-V-E-N-T A LIE BEFORE EACH COMMING ELECTION....!!!???!!!???
CAN'T YOU & YOUR PARTY BE POLITICALLY HONEST.. F-O-R..O-N-C-E....!!!???!!!???
Oh Yes Dr. Busuttil & Co. We ALL know 'A LIE' by now whenever we see one... Don't worry...
ERGAJTU WAQAJTU GHAC-CAJT. TAFU TILGHABU FAIR INTOM JEW? IMISSKOM TISTHU.
Do you dare to say that what Dr Sant said about the EU were simply misleading statements, rhetoric, speeches? Is not what Dr Sant and the CNI said years ago being all fulfilled? Is not the EU imposing its diktat on Malta and the Maltese people? Are we not being invaded not only by illegal immigrants but also by EU settlers who are all taking the work and bread of Maltese workers and their families? What about the promises to the hunters and trappers, the factory workers, the Dockyards workers, the farmers, herdsmen, fishermen and everyone else? You have the gall to deny all this? No wonder your party has been called years ago the Partit saħta ta’ Malta.
...and these are the same people who screamed "opportunist" and "Gharukaza qed tippoliticizza l-immigrazzjoni" and cried blue murder when Dr.Joseph Muscat gave his alternatives to this huge problem!! I guess it's all OK for the PN to politicise everything but Muscat has to stay put and open his mouth whenever it suits their agenda!!
The PN is also trying to reform the warden system afte a recent public consultation notwithstanding years of blatant abuse from the warden system and their respective contractors. We have been taken for a ride for so long and the utility bills saga is still fresh in our minds.
You have fleeced the nation for so long, exploited the taxpayer repeatedly, squandered millions in the drydocks settlement and now you come up with a cheap political manoevre to try and gain some sympathy.
Incedentally, this is something you should have done before installing speed cameras all over the Island in a final effort to collect more revenue. Voting the PN in Europe would be detrimental to the concept of democracy and will create a totalitarian regime, free from political balance.
Fact: PPP was against the granting of voting rights.
Where were the PL MEPs when it came to getting the support of their fellow MEPs within their parliamentary group? Why have they been unable to influence their postion? Joseph Muscat was quick to get Martin Schultz to endorse him in Malta during the leadership race.. what has been done by the PL and by their MLPs with their 'friend' Martin Schultz to ensure that Malta's interests are protected?
For all their shouts of 'foul' the PL still has to explain how it is using the presence of its MEPs to influence votes in favour of our interests.
Are the interests of the Socialist group compatible with those of our country?
It shows how intelligent negotiation behind the scenes can bear fruit and we need MEPs of the same calibre as Dr Busuttil to represent us. Part timers representation (only 2 of the 3 PL MEPs voted) and non influential representation do nothing to further our national interest.
What Joseph Muscat and the PL should be doing is condemning the European Socialist for the way they voted. Then, Joseph Muscat wouldn't want to offend his good friend Martin Schultz. After all he excused the Maltese Socialist MEPs not to toe the Party line, so not to embarrass his good friend and their boss, Joseph Muscat.
Quote “In Malta the Labour Party shuns immigration and plays the veto card, but in Brussels the Socialists play a different tune and want to give migrants voting rights,” he said. Dr. Simon Busuttil
The construction of your sentence when first you Mention Maltese L.P. MEP (Maltese Socialsts) then you immediately say that in Malta the L.P speaks against illegal immigrants then then the Socialist in Brussel vote in favour. All words in the same breath.
This is a malicious way of saying things. The Indians say forked tongue"
You don't deserve trust. Ask the hunters.
Dr. Busuttil, you should shoulder the full responsibilty because you should have reported that immigrnts should not be allowed to vote. You did not.
You allowed foreigners to intervene against Malta's interest.You did not have the courage to say no in your report.
In Malta the P.N. (conservatives) say they are against the illegal imigration but in Brussels Conservatives accuse Malta of not doing its part on the illegal immigrationm question. Tit for tat.
Now that the report drafted by Simon Busuttil was approved we need to make sure that the European debate goes towards a position which is tougher against immigration. We need a European mindset on this question FOR OUR OWN GOOD, we shall not manage alone unless we want other political questions to suffer. Barrot stated "massive immigration" must be stopped. The European Parliament will gain more clout in EU decision-making and it is time to vote those candidates whose European political party is more adverse to this "massive immigration into Europe". The Socialists and the Greens have a clear record and they never fail to impress. Now they seek to grant voting rights to migrants. For our own brand of Socialists, another Guantanamo was to be avoided.
Kulħadd jaf li l-ebda priġunier ma jista' jinġieb lejn Malta diment li m'ghandux passaport Malti. Dik il-hniena tal-PN? Li jzommu nies ittorturati f'dak l-istat, nies li huma Ewropej bhalhom u barra li ghandhom dritt li jirritornaw lejn pajjizhom dawn lanqas biss tressqu quddiem l-ebda qorti? Dan huwa r-religjon u l-valuri Kristjani li jiftahru bih il-PN?
U pruvaw ghamlu distinzjoni bejn immigranti LEGALI u LLEGALI. Misskom tisthu! Lanqas li ma tidhrux li kontu preparati biex tidhlu hawn tattakkaw lil kull min jerfa' rasu kontra l-PN...veru ddizappuntat b'dan li gara.
Kunu afu ukoll li Simon Busuttil qatt ma semma xejn meta Louis Grech hareg bl-idea ta' l-agenzija ta' l-imigrazzjoni... issa qed jipprova jintghogob lejliet l-elezzjoni.
Grazzi talli kkonfermajtuli lil min ghandi nivvota....
If Italy is a Flagship within the PPE, then our PN candidates seems to look more as a lifeboat rather to be on the bridge although they are doing lot of effort so things looks different
There are many ways to skin a cat. Please contain yourselves, Simon is campaigning.
Remember all the promises before the last General Election? `We will do everything in our power to keep prices down`-Lawrence Gonzi. He was campaigning also.
The moral of this little note is: Open you eyes and ask, who is taklng who for a ride?
INTOM SMAJTU L'PROPOSTI TAL PL FUQ L'IMMIGRAZZJONI ILLEGALI? GIELI SMAJTU LIL MICHEAL FALZON JITKELLEM? ZGUR LI LE(Your quote)
U ZGUR LI LE, U BIR - RAGUN !
LIL MICHEAL FALZON , IL - PL WARRBU U ANQAS NIFS TA XEJN MA QED ITIH IL p.l, !!!
TAF X' JONQOS LI, TAJRUH TRADITUR WARA DAK LI GHAMEL F'LAHHAR TELFA TAL MLP.
DUSTY, IL POPLU KOLLU JAF , MIN GHANDU JISTHI , IL PL ' BISSSSSSSSS !
KISSIRTU, LIL MICHEAL FALZON, MELA LIL MALTA X' TAGHMLULA KIEKU ??? HEQ EMM.
WELLDONE SIMON WELLDONE.
How can you accuse the one MEP who has been most consistent, direct and accurate about EU matters about 'spin'? Have you forgotten the many years of misleading statements, rhetoric, speeches etc by the MLP lead by Alfred Sant and his lead spin doctor, Joseph Muscat, in relation to EU matters? The PN, and in particular, Simon Busuttil, have been consistent in their views on the EU - and time has proven them right. this is a far cry from the MLP position, which to this very day fails to convince.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sce/data/votes_results/doc//AN.20090422.pdf Araw dan l-link u tkunu tafu li mhuwiex minnu li vvutaw kontra ( pages 121-122)
Ghal kuntrarju membri tal-ppe ivvutaw kontra mhux tas-socjalisti
On the Guantanamo Bay issue the PL MEPs voted with their party against our national interest. Their inconsistency is scary and proves they do not have the strength of character within international fora. The calibre of their candidates and the poor direction given by their PL leadership account for this sorry state of affairs. With just 5 MEPs we simply cannot afford to have part timers who are not totally committed to the national interest representing us in the EP!
To all follow citizens, that agree that all illegal immigrants should have the right to vote, you must be out of our mind.
If this will happen, we're just preparing to open further rights like voting in the general election and thus the day will come when they will be able to contest the elections.... just thing on the consequences..........
Secondly to the three PL MEP should be a shamed of them self and thus I do not know how they ve'got the guts to show their faces in Malta and to present them self as candidates for the coming EP election. (If they voted in favor)
If the right to vote will be given to the illegal immigrants we're sending the wrong massage to the Africans that are waiting to cross to Europe that we will welcome them with open arms thus we will give you all the rights as the citizens of the country you entered illegally.
Last but not lest, the only dissuasion that should take place in one that is to repatriate all illegal immigrants immediately, and not for the burden sharing to start working with in the EU member states.
HOW LONG BEFORE PEOPLE OPEN THEIR EYES TO THE TRUTH.
So who voted for Quantanamo convicts to be brought to the EU when the PN MEPs voted against?
Pull the other one, Joseph.
The report gives the vote to migrants with FIVE YEARS' LEGAL RESIDENCE for the LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS. EU residents and Third Country Nationals with long-term residence visa already VOTE IN LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS!!!
And shouldn't a refugee (not an asylum seeker) have the right to vote for the council in the town he has been living for the past five years? What about an American investor who has lived here for 20 years - cant he vote in the local councils?
Halliena Simon b'min tahseb li ser tidhaqq......................................
if PL defence is that their MEPs voted against the clause giving the vote to illegal immigrations, I think they missed the whole point of being in the EP.
it is about CONVINCING THEIR PARTY TO DO THE WITHDRAW THEIR CLAUSE IN FAVOUR OF THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS VOTE, and not where our 5 National votes out of 785 go in the EP.
this is a clear cut example of how PL is still not aware on how their representatives could be effective in the European Parliament.
How effective are our MEPs in their respective Parties (EPP and PES) in influencing their positions.
There is a CLEAR-CUT difference in my view.
you tried to blow a baloon and it burst right in your face..........you should be ashamed......that's how you promote yourself to be a clean "politician"
SHAME!!!!!
Roberto Maroni is a member of Lega Nord.
Lega Nord is not a member of the PPE.
Lega Nord is with the 'Union for Europe of the Nations' group in the European Parliament
To all follow citizens, that agree that all illegal immigrants should have the right to vote, you must be out of our mind.
If this will happen, we're just preparing to open further rights like voting in the general election and thus the day will come when they will be able to contest the elections.... just thing on the consequences..........
Secondly to the three PL MEP should be a shamed of them self and thus I do not know how they ve'got the guts to show their faces in Malta and to present them self as candidates for the coming EP election. (If they voted in favor)
If the right to vote will be given to the illegal immigrants we're sending the wrong message to the Africans that are waiting to cross to Europe that we will welcome them with open arms thus we will give you all the rights as the citizens of the country you entered illegally.
Last but not lest, the only dissuasion that should take place in one that is to repatriate all illegal immigrants immediately, and not for the burden sharing to start working with in the EU member states
ALL MEP's voted AGAINST giving immigrants any right to vote and trying to give a different impression is just a big, fat lie!!
@S.Busuttil--- You are the best candidate on the PN side so I'm sure you can go above such cheap stunts.......i'm not sure gonziPN can though!! Leave the dirty work to some johnny-come-lately!!!
@Cyrus Engerer---Can you tell me what you think about the fact that the Pn MEP's have consistantly voted against or abstained on issues dealing with homosexuality!!! Do you honestly feel comfortable with this Party?? Does it really hear our needs?? Or do gay people only exist (like the rest) before the election for the PN and then have to make way for the conservative gibberish afterwards??????
I have never seen any of the MLP European Parlamentarians heading delegations on the matter let alone having a report adopted by the EP. So can you please answer a very simple question "who is playing the gallarijja now????" Very easy for Labour to critisize and say ther is nothing they can be critisized about. Of course, If they did'nt do anything, there is nothing to critisize.
Pity MEP elections are used as a protest vote, as everyone knows the MLP EP ticket, Eurosceptism at its BEST...
INTOM SMAJTU L'PROPOSTI TAL PL FUQ L'IMMIGRAZZJONI ILLEGALI? GIELI SMAJTU LIL MICHEAL FALZON JITKELLEM? ZGUR LI LE.
KIF TIPPRUVAW DEJJEM QABEL XI ELEZZJONI LI THAWWDU L'IMHUH TAN NIES..
MALTA GHANDNA NIES INTELLIGENTI TA U KAPACI JINDUNAW WAHIDHOM LI QEGHDIN ITQARRQU BIN-NIES... JEKK IS-SOCJALISTI EWROPEJ IRIDU HEKK MA JFISSIRX L'MEP'S MALTIN RIEDU HEKK .. SA FEJ NAF JIEN L MEPS MALTIN JAQBLU MA SIMON GHALEKK IVVOTAW KONTRA.
X'QED TAHSBUNA BAHNANA JEW ... IMISSKOM TISTHU.
Or the law changes suit today's politicians??
Do you believe that other than citizens care about what happen to a country? This is just a mask for another purpose.
While everyone is so alarmed at the thought that an inmate from Guantanamo Bay could actually be incarcerated in this country, please bear in mind that the only country which has given us a helping hand is the USA .......
They are the ones that have actually accepted to relocate some of our immigrants........
They are the ones that supplied the patrol boats ....
They are the ones that have given the AFM the training ......
And yet you complain
Lets face it the US has done more for us than the EU. As far as I am concerned the EU are just the bully boys, and I don't believe for one moment that any EU country is prepared to help us out with burden sharing. Lets face it every EU country has its own immigration problems
As the saying goes, a drowning man will clutch at a straw
The Labour Party was consistent on this one and all the PL MEPs voted against. I pretend that there will be no partisan politics on this one!!
We should be proud by our PL MEPs, they voted in the national interest of Malta, they put the National interest at first and not any other agenda.
Louis Grech and John Attard Montalto voted AGAINST but Busuttil is into Punch and Judy spin politics. Shameful indeed.
The right to vote for immigrants comes thanks to SIMON BUSUTTIL and is NOW enshrined - and will alsways be remembered - as the BUSUTTIL REPORT.
To begin with this is just a report, which needs many stages to pass to anything tangible. Secondly, why does it insist on Frontex when it is a failure? Thirdly, Barot said that it will be difficult to convince individual countries to any permanent burden sharing.
The last time there was such an enthusiasm is when Frontex began. And it was prior to the general election.
Do not discard the Veto so early. This report may need some Vetoing to be convinved through.
For those who do not believe, can easily check the votes on this link:
(pg 121-122): http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sce/data/votes_results/doc//AN.20090422.pdf
Simon Busuttil is trying to give the impression that he is the ´top man´ within the EPP-ED. If it was the case, he should have had the power to exert pressure on the Italian Government to stop sending illegal immigrants to Malta!!!!
As for greens its nothing new. This has always been their policy.
It seems only few choices are left. Either vote for PN(some of them as other are just socialists who happen to be in the PN rather then in te PL) or AN candidates if you are really worried about this issue.
This is a suicide for our country.
PL cannot be taken seriously. In Malta they speak like a right wing party and in Europe they vote like the communists.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/04/19/t1.html
they never change. unfortnately..
And please before you criticise, better check your facts first. Shooting from the hip doesn't do much to your party and the country as a whole.
It is ironic that you criticise the Socialists who are in reality MORE inclined to share this human responsibility and praise the Conservatives and Far Right who want to keep them locked up in one country for ever or else to disproportionately place the burden only on small BORDER countries!!
PS I am a Socialist and proud of it. Well done to Socialists and Greens in Europe.
As long as you stand under the pn ticket, your credibility is doubted. I am sorry, but you will not get my vote no matter how hard you try.
We're proud of you Simon, and this goes also for David Casa. If only the Maltese could see the light and elect more PN MEPs in the coming elections, we'd be such a better lot.
I expect a similar statement from the PL explaining their reasoning for such behaviour.
Many peoples and most probably with out reading or fail to understand the content of the article automatically add ‘illegal’ to immigrants. Is this obsession out of racism or out of hysteria?
It is imperative that in the June 6th EU elections we ALL MUST VOTE PARTIT NAZZJONALISTA – the only way to safegaurd our rights in Europe.
I remain stunned by Busuttil´s PR....!!!!!
The right to vote goes to refugess not to illegal immigrants.
A.Attard (Rabat)
Vote those who make the difference by not even mentioning the word VETO.
Let us save our country once again by voting to all PN candidates this coming June.
Well done Simon !!
For the EU to remedy its democratic deficit and not to remain decades backwards in terms of immigrants, a common agreed immigrant’s policy must be signed and agreed upon by all block members.
Legal immigrants that work and legally stay a period of at least five years in EU' soil must enjoy equal rights as Inhabitant citizens including the right to vote.
Remember- such right gave AD chairman Arnold Cassola the right to contest on Italian election.
Thanks for anyone who can explain this.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/018-54071-111-04-17-902-20090421IPR54070-21-04-2009-2009-false/default_sv.htm
Notice the following excerpt:
'The report also supports the view that immigrants from third countries should be granted the right to full mobility in the EU, after a period of five years' LEGAL residence in a Member State. A further recommendation from MEPs suggests that democratic participation is crucial to integration they are therefore calling for migrants to be allowed to vote in LOCAL elections. ' (emphasis added)
Andrew
jahasra qed taqa f nasba . mintix tinduna li waslet elezjoni tal p.e .
ilhom isiru rapporti ta esperti u voti kontra voti. issa kulhadd irid jimpressjona fl ahhar mumenti.
u sadanittant lanca gejja u ohra gejja
First of all i would like to point out that socialist and conservative principles in European countries are not the same principles that we have, i bet that half the Maltese peaople do not know what being SOCIALIST and CONSERVATIVE mean, we only vote because my father votes that, and my mother votes this, and maybe we can get this and that.
But i must come to some comments that i have read, all people must go and vote P.N??why??? have you not had the time to read and hear mr Muscats comments??? do you not know that he is one hundred percent behind the Primeminister on these issues?? what does this say about him in your eyes??. Socialisim in principle has always been for the people and the weak read the story of how nations how they developed,, not how politics are run in Malta. I will vote for P.L candidates not because i am P.L but only because i am in favour of there policys.
Having long term Immigrants voting in local elections is not the same as voting in Elections to elect who is going to represent us at the EU. The issues and scope are not the same.
Whom are these long term immigrants going to vote for? A Candidate whose' party is affiliated with a block within the EU Parliament that is more likely to be sympathetic to his native land; or to a candidate who is affiliated with a block at the EU Parliament this is more likely to be sympathetic to Malta?
Who was it that said Socialist cannot see beyond the tip of their noses?
Now is the time for PL MEPs to stand to be counted and to publicly declare their position and show us how they voted and what pressure - if any - they have brought to bear on their party to remove the right to vote. This is the stark difference between PN MEPs and PL MEPs. The national interest must always take precedence over party interests. Sadly the Socialists have been consistent only insofar as their loyalty to their party goes.
We need MEPs who act in the national interest more than ever before..... PN MEPs have always done so!
This(above) clearly shows that the pact signed in October called for voluntary burden sharing, which we now indirectly admit it was a farce. But at least we're moving forward by admitting our defaulted past stances.
Also Socialists and Greens can't be trusted on these issues. Granting votes to immigrants would spell disaster for legal citizen rights. In Europe Greens and reds are different from the ones we see on our islands. But ironically they are the same!
X'inteligenza hi din? X'politika hi din? Minn jaf x'hemm waraja din il-buzillotta?
Tghid qed jemmnu li veru m'ghandhomx voti bizzejjed biex jirbhu l-gvern fl' elezzjoni li jmiss?
Tghid jien qed immur minn mohhi? Tghid dawn tal-PL ser igibuna nitkellmu wehidna!
Melu hsibkom hemm huti Maltin u Ghawdxin, ghax jien ma niftakar qatt li xi darba waqqaf ibberraq minn-nhar tal-Partit Laborista? Il-berraq ifisser dejjem maltemp kiefer, tafdawx!
The voting rights are for MIGRANTS, so it doesn't mean they are automatically ILLEGAL.
This is probably a non-binding report. And what about the Dublin II amendments?
I am all in for respecting everyone's human rights, however, I am shocked at the way that Maltese Labour MEPs are voting on such important issues in the European Parliament. An MEP is elected in the only insitution of the EU that directly represents us citizens, however, it seems that Labour MEPs are not voting in the interest of Maltese citizens.
Now, as EU we have a legal basis to move on and share the burden together. The commission must now press Member States to present concrete proposals on how they are going to settle illegal migrants from southern Europe.
As to the Socialists and to the PL MEPs, shame on them. Why render something illegal, legal? How on earth can something like this happen.
I look forward for their first appearance on National television, with their serious faces, and bold statements on their O-tolerance on illegal immigration.
Also - their vote is restricted to LOCAL COUNCILS, not general elections.
Seconded!
I am not happy with our present government, but I am much less happier with our PL crew in Brussels!
For MEP elections the protest vote needs to be the other way round this time. We need 4 PN MEPs and 1 PL. This way they might learn to stop playing the hypocrites between Malta and Brussels and stop supporting ridiculous proposals such as these.
This double game on this issue will not work. Can the Socialists give us a detailed explanation. It is important to have an opposition but it has to be a good opposition and after losing so many elections, its about time that they sort out their politics or leave. Other people can do a better opposition job. Lets see, what the Maltese Socialists have to say.
On immigration, the line was drawn in the sand, so I suggest, nobody crosses this line.
Stephen Farrugia