Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Busuttil slams Maroni
Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil yesterday launched a scathing attack on Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni following the ongoing spat between Malta and Italy over migrants stranded off Lampedusa last week.
Addressing MEPs in Strasbourg before the approval of the European Parliament's position on the EU's Common Immigration Policy, which he drafted, Dr Busuttil accused Mr Maroni of trying to shift Italy's legal responsibilities onto Malta. This was "shameful". He dismissed Mr Maroni's actions as political gimmicks.
"It is shameful that a country of 60 million tries to shift its legal responsibilities onto a country of less than half a million," he said, adding that he hoped this was just an isolated case where a Lega Nord minister was fishing for votes just a few weeks before the European Parliament elections.
"We can see through political gimmicks. But that does not make them acceptable," Dr Busuttil told the European Parliament.
On the other hand, he welcomed the constructive spirit in which the Maltese and Italian Prime Ministers intervened to unblock the situation. "Thanks to their intervention, reason prevailed over gimmicks, commonsense prevailed over intransigence and the rule of law prevailed over the law of the jungle," he said.
Turning onto the contents of his report, Dr Busuttil said the EP wanted a coherent approach on immigration that made action truly effective.
However, during the final vote on the report, things did not go totally the way Dr Busuttil hoped because an amendment by Socialist and Green groups to give legal immigrants voting rights was approved.
Although the three Maltese Labour MEPs voted with Dr Busuttil against the amendments and against their group's line, the majority of Socialist and Green MEPs managed to get their way. Technically, the EP's position on granting voting rights in local elections to regular migrants is not legally binding because the final say in this case is that of member states.
Dr Busuttil's report was adopted by 485 votes in favour, 110 against and 19 abstentions.
The report emphasises the need for a burden-sharing mechanism, envisaged in the Immigration Pact approved by member states last year. It also stresses the need for more repatriations to be made and that illegal third country nationals must leave the EU or be returned.
With regard to the Frontex agency, Dr Busuttil's report stresses the need for the agency to be further strengthened both in terms of financial resources and in terms of its capacity to act.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
18 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
GaleaL
Apr 24th 2009, 09:13
Randolph Bugeja
Good work. Bringing Frontex as a free ferry service for illegal immigrants to be brought to Malta.
Randolph Bugeja
Apr 23rd 2009, 21:15
@Mark Spiteri: I doubt Simon Busuttil needs to fish for votes. His track record speaks for itself.
Randolph Bugeja
Apr 23rd 2009, 20:29
@ Roger Mifsud + Anthony Abela: oh pllleassseee... Simon is the ONLY MEP who has been working incessantly to try and find a solution to illegal immigration at EU level.
Mark Spiteri
Apr 23rd 2009, 13:31
Do I smell another case of "fishing for votes " ? as Simon puts it.
Come on give the new guys a smell of being an MEP, and all the lucrative benefits that goes with it.
Luke Gatt
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:45
The damage which Marone's tirad against Malta has made is so great that I applaud Simon Busuttil's action to slam him in the European Parliament. I wish the other MEPs in the Parliament took the occasion to follow Simon's example. Marone's unjust criticism has unleashed a spate of anti-Maltese sentiment on many Italian blogs. It would be useful for the Maltese not to react in kind and show these people - who do not represent the mainstream of Italian society - how to behave well. So Marone with the resources of 60 million people blames his complete inadequacies at the Italian internal ministry by blaming it all on us. The truth will come out eventually, we all need to be patient. Marone was insensitive to the long-standing relations between our two peoples and the damage he has done to Italo-Maltese relations is incalculable! He deserves a place in the Hall of Fame of minnions.
Victor Mamo
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:33
@ anthony abela
X'jinbah? So according to you Simon, who i might add, is one of our most consistent MEPs who is actually standing up for our rights as European Citizens. Here he is opening the eyes of his compatriots in the EP and you accuse him of opening his mouth just to add some spice to his electoral campaign?
F Frendo
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:28
@Roger Mifsud @Anthony Abela
Time and again Simon Busuttil has been a model MEP and he has been consistent in challenging established rules and practices - in the national interest. He has openly challenged his own party on several issues because he is totally committed to Malta. You hear more of him now because the PL are publicizing (negatively) everything any PN MEP/canddiate says - and the same applies to comment makers like yourselves. Simon has much to crow about unlike other MEPs!
Joseph Cauchi
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:24
So the European Socialists and Greens voted for the amendment to grant “legal” immigrants the right to vote.
Does a “legal” immigrant have to be a citizen of an EU state to qualify for this right?
I admit that I was not pleased with this final outcome; however, since it is up to the member states to grant this right of vote, then I am not so loose-hearted because I am certain that our Government is quite responsible when push comes to shove, not to grant such vote if it would be detrimental to the Maltese society and the Government wouldn’t hesitate to call a referendum on the matter if need be!
../..
Sandro Pace
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:20
Simon Busuttil's effort is good but I am afraid it is useless. This is the same as the Guantanamo proposal. It may not be so popular with individual countries, and hence can be blocked there. Or be something voluntary, which brings us back to square one.
Getting something through the EP is the first and easiest step. Nothing is yet achieved. If that was so, we have already abortion in our country. Cause it passed in the EP.
While one hopes for the best, do not bet much that EU countries will be eager to share the burden. by diplomacy alone. If they did not already did it by now, there are no signs that they will do it as it get worse. No one cares for Malta.
Alistair Bonanno
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:08
This is very alarming:
"Socialist and Green groups to give legal immigrants voting rights was approved".
With a small population like Malta's we can end up tourists in our home country overnight !
Please do something about it!
Joseph Cauchi
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:04
May I congratulate Dr. Simon Busuttil for his continuous positive contributions he makes in the European Parliament for the benefit of Malta.
I am sure the approval by the E.P. of this “EU’s Immigration Policy” drafted by Dr. Simon Busuttil himself, is a feather in his hat!
We certainly need people like him in Europe that can really deliver the goods!
Well Done.
../..
GaleaL
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:01
Sock it to him Simon.
If it was done by a PL MEP all hell would have been let loose, but it is ok if is is a PN MEP.
Again sock it to him Simon.
R Abela
Apr 23rd 2009, 11:40
The makku is roaring.....hold on to your seats and let us wait for the outcome - an outcome negotiated through persuasion and diplomacy through the proper channels at the proper time. What Maroni did was out of line and that is why he is being chastised. It has nothing to do with the party colour of he who is making his voice heard. Time and again the PN has shown that it works with its head not its heart.
roger mifsud
Apr 23rd 2009, 11:34
So Simon Busuttil has found his voice, accusing Italy of making a shameful stand. How strong! How impressive! If only MEP elections were not around the corner I would believe he is being forthright. How like the PN! But recalling that just weeks ago Dr Busuttil was lauding the PN government 'triumph' in Brussels, the Immigration Pact, which has brought us absolutely nothing, makes my senses come back to me. What a sordid situation!
anthony abela
Apr 23rd 2009, 11:29
X tinbah Simon! Jaqaw gejja xi elezzjoni????
You are more of the same stuff. So its thanks but no thanks from me.
J Busuttil
Apr 23rd 2009, 11:27
Well done Simon for what you have achieved for us, Maltese, during this week. We need more proficient and courageous people like you to represent us in the European Parliament.
The reputation of Malta in such delicate matters is extremely important.
Well done to Dr Carm Mifsud Bonnici and to the Italian & Maltese Prime Ministers.
P.Cassar
Apr 23rd 2009, 10:50
WHEN PL REPS SLAM OTHERS HELL BREAKS LOOSE BECAUSE THSE THINGS ARE UNETHICAL BUT WHEN PN MEMBERS DO IT, IT IS OK. BESIDES SIMON DID NOT NEED TO GO TO SUCH LENGHTS. HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN OUT THE AGREEMENT RE VOLUNTARY BURDEN SHARING AND THE ITALIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN SILENCED. aT LEAST SIMON HIMSELF WAS SAYING THAT THE AGREEMENT CARRIED WEIGHT OR IS HE NOW THINKING LIKE THE PL THAT SUCH AGREEMNETS ARE BUT PIECES OF PAPER!!!!
leonardo vince
Apr 23rd 2009, 10:03
Round around the garden....................