EP committee votes for compulsory burden sharing
The need to shift the EU's burden-sharing mechanism on migration from voluntary to compulsory was yesterday accepted in principle by the European Parliament's Committee for Civil Liberties.
During a vote on a set of migration-related proposals, put forward by the European Commission last year, the committee decided it was essential to propose legally-binding instruments to ensure more solidarity between member states.
This followed amendments moved by Simon Busuttil, which were unanimously supported by the committee.
According to the text approved, the Commission was now being called upon to come up with a concrete proposal for compulsory burden-sharing, which should be in place by no later than the end of 2011.
The text stated that the EU should enact a "binding (instrument) on all member states to provide effective support to those member states that are faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their national systems due, in particular, to their geographical or demographic situation".
During yesterday's meeting in Brussels, the committee also gave its consent to another Commission proposal in favour of suspending the EU's Dublin Regulation in the case of countries such Malta, which was facing disproportionate migratory pressures.
Though these proposals have to be agreed upon by member states to become law, the EP shared co-decision powers with member states and its views could not be ignored by the Council.
Dr Busuttil said the EP had delivered an important message of solidarity to Malta and laid the foundation stone for a binding burden-sharing mechanism.
Describing yesterday's vote as a huge victory for Malta, Dr Busuttil said the EP had now given its backing to take burden-sharing one step further by making this instrument legally binding.
"We are on the way to suspending Dublin in the case of Malta and we are on the way to establishing a legally-binding burden-sharing mechanism. We are still likely to face resistance but we shall persevere until we get there," Dr Busuttil insisted.
The Dublin Regulation places the responsibility for immigrants squarely on the EU country where they arrive. This means that migrants landing in Malta become its responsibility and if they move and are apprehended in other EU countries they are transferred back to Malta.
Malta has long called for a change to these rules and these were formally proposed by the European Commission last December.
The committee position will be put to a final vote next month during the EP's last plenary session before the elections.
Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
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Patrick Cilia
Apr 29th 2009, 09:15
@Mr. Galea. of course the MEPs representing the EPP in Malta had their own creed when they put through a document regarding a national issue as Illegal immigration, they had their own creed when they pushed for the protection fo consumers against online scams, they had their own creed when theyworked with Government to get more funds from the Commission...just remind me what our boys from the PES did over the last five years...i remember one of them working his way to the head of the Malta Labour Party and riding on the back of Mr. Schultz to get there...is that not minding one's own creed?
Joe Galea
Apr 29th 2009, 08:19
@all PN Spinners: Before you start blubbering in vain, get your info right. It was the PN MEP's who voted for the voluntary burden sharing. PL at that time was strongly against it as they wanted obligatory burden sharing. The PN ridiculed PL as usual, and now ooops!! elections are coming so a U-Turn was inevitable. I sincerely hope that next time around we will have more PL MEP's as they are the only ones who have Malta first and foremost, not their personal creed first like PN MEP's.
Patrick Cilia
Apr 28th 2009, 22:29
@ Peter meilaq...the PES Malta MEPs were so committed to the illegal immigration issue one of them was in Mosta opening his personal campaign for the 6th june!!! As for the rest, they did not even persuade the other PES parliamentarians to back us up as a nation......those are THE facts...if Mr. Grech was so committed to the issue why did he not show it more tangibly?
Mario Cortis
Apr 28th 2009, 21:35
Acknowledging the possible disputes when discussing this issue with African countries like Libya, I believe this is an essential step forward to at least share this over flowing of illegal immigrants to Malta and the more coming in Summer.
@ Peter Meilaq: If Louis Grech did speak in favor of illegal immigration, why didn't he try to persuade his fellow Socialists MEPs to reject the proposal of the right to immigrants to vote??? Dr Busuttil tried to stop this but where was Louis Grech??
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Apr 28th 2009, 21:03
@ Peter Meilaq
Is that the best Louis Grech and the PL MEP could do about illegal immigration? Just talk about it the one time in passing?
I am sure if Louis Grech and the PL MEPs took the issue to hearth as Jason Busuttil did, we will be much ahead by now. Why, Joseph Muscat did not call on his buddy, Mr. Schultz to bring into force his influence (at least that what is claimed by Joseph Muscat) on the European Socialist headed by Mr Schultz to push ahead with Malta's position on Illegal Immigration.
I guess Mr. Schultz was more busy with working toward European Countries accepting suspected Al Qaeda terrorist on European soil and granting voting rights to immigrants then Malta's cry in resolving the illegal immigration issue.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Apr 28th 2009, 20:19
@ R. Azzopardi
Burden sharing only applies to those illegal immigrants that are granted refugees status. The other illegal immigrants will face the same faith as they do now- that is repatriation.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Apr 28th 2009, 20:17
@ Patrick Cilia
Well said, indeed.
Unfortunately the naysayers (aka Joseph Muscat and the Pl) and the veto mongers would not understand.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Apr 28th 2009, 20:11
@ Muscat Peter
You better believe it, if not next, for sure the one after. Simon Busuttil, unlike Joseph Muscat, not only talk the walk, but he walks it too. What a contrast!
Beware not PN MEPs, but Joseph Muscat and the PL. Who said that Socialist cannot think beyond the tip of their noses?
David Seychell
Apr 28th 2009, 20:00
"Describing yesterday's vote as a huge victory for Malta..." Not so fast Dr Busuttil. Before shouting utter victory, I suggest you to meditate on the following points:
1: You already in the past described Frontex as a victory for Malta, but in reality we know that it was a total failure. It didn't turn back not even 1 boat and as its chief said, it acted as a pull factor and increased the arrivals of the illegal immigrants by 70%. No wonder that the Italians wanted to stop Frontex this year.
2: Compulsory burden sharing has still to be accepted by ALL the 27 EU states. And it won't be easy.
3: Lampedusa is much smaller than Malta but receives 30-40,000 illegals a year because they know that from there they would be transfered to Italy. If all 27 states accept compulsory burden sharing, Malta would end being as attractive to illegal immigrants as Lampedusa. Hence, Malta would too start having an influx of 30-40,000 a year.
4: Compulsory BS is not a definitive solution, but a temporary one. Once the EU states are full up, still we would need to stop this influx.
Victor Mamo
Apr 28th 2009, 19:33
@ Mr Meilaq
Pray explain what else Louis Grech and the other PL MEPs did regarding illegal immigration? As opposed to the consistency of Simon Busuttil who continuously raises the issue in the EP and also won a couple of very important victories for Malta recently.
louise vella
Apr 28th 2009, 17:52
“compulsory burden sharing”
Illegal immigrants are a burden and it’s better for a burden to be shared. But it’s better still if the burden were avoided or reduced. This can be done by a determined defence by a robust (but unarmed) coastguard which would push back illegal immigrants’ boats back to where they came from. Also, repatriation - send them back to their countries with a lot of publicity to discourage others from coming.
Peter meilaq
Apr 28th 2009, 16:57
@James Dimech.
Are you serious??? Do you actually follow what goes on in Eu? I doubt it since you clearly stated that 'It is a shame that we have more Labour MEPs than PN ones, and none of the Labour MEPs ever picked on the immigration issue which is an urgent priority for Malta!
If you really wish for some facts, Louis Grech was the first person to raise the issues of illegal immigrations in Malta in a plenary session, back in 2005:
http://www.migreurop.org/article886.html
Get your facts right before stating your opinion!!!!
Patrick Cilia
Apr 28th 2009, 15:52
I think we need to understand that without EU membership there would be no compulsory burden sharing..there would be no financial assistance and certainly no Frontex...and we would still be at the mercy of illegal immigrants. The problem now needs to be tackled at source, in Africa. With preseverance, commitment and conviction just two MEPs out of five from Malta managed to get EP backing and support...imagine if there were five dedicated and committed MEPs after 6th June!!
R Azzopardi
Apr 28th 2009, 13:48
By compulsory burden sharing more illegal immigrants will make the crossing as now they will be sure of going somewhere , be it Malta or Europe's Central Mainland. We cannot accept more illegal immigrants as Malta is full up.
John Zarb
Apr 28th 2009, 13:42
@P.Cassar
Joseph Muscat and PL talked a lot (compulsory, vetoes, proposals etc.) and got nothing from the EP or the EU.
On the other hand Simon Busuttil spoke carefully and as you see obtained results.
P.Cassar
Apr 28th 2009, 13:18
Joseph Muscat has said these words weeks ago. Please wake up Simon and remember how you criticised him vehemently. Time at least to ask a pardon from him and from us and then do continue backing the PL with the fight.
Muscat.Pat
Apr 28th 2009, 12:14
It is obvious that instead of GONZIPN we are going to have SIMONPN in the next election. The thing is are Nationalist MEP's going to accept this humiliation? MEP's should represent temselves and their programme. PN MEP'S wake up!
James Dimech
Apr 28th 2009, 11:26
Bit by bit I believe we will get there. This shows the clout that Busuttil enjoys in the EP. It is a shame that we have more Labour MEPs than PN ones, and none of the Labour MEPs ever picked on the immigration issue which is an urgent priority for Malta!
lgalea
Apr 28th 2009, 11:10
A Commission proposal three years from now and in the meantime we will continue to be inundated by thousands of illegal immigrants.
Tell it to the marines.
Ramon Casha
Apr 28th 2009, 10:18
Since some have questioned by Simon Busuttil is the only Maltese MEP who voted on this, it is worth pointing out that he is the only Maltese MEP assigned to this committee. The other Maltese MEPs will have the opportunity to vote when this proposal is brought before the EP next month.
List of members of the European Parliament's Committee for Civil Liberties:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/membersCom.do?language=EN&body=LIBE