Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Malta, Italy pressure EU to act on illegal migration
Malta and Italy yesterday continued to exert more pressure on the EU and other member states to act concretely on the issue of illegal migration facing the EU's southern Mediterranean borders. Greece also added its weight complaining of the influx it was experiencing from its Turkish borders.
The issue was jointly raised by Malta and Italy following the recent spat between the two neighbouring countries over which of them should take the 140 illegal immigrants on board the cargo vessel Pinar E.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini presented a six-point plan to his colleagues during the monthly Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers, held in Luxembourg.
Mr Frattini held talks on illegal immigration with his Maltese counterpart, Tonio Borg before the council meeting.
He emphasised the need for the EU to address this problem immediately so the burden was shared. Later in the evening, in Brussels, the European Parliament's Committee for Civil Liberties accepted in principle the need to shift the EU's burden-sharing mechanism on migration from voluntary to compulsory.
Mr Frattini's plan included the proposals put by his Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni last week calling for a reinforcement of Frontex to be able to take care of detention centres and the repatriation of illegal immigrants, the inclusion of readmission agreements with countries of origin and enforced solidarity.
Dr Borg said that during his intervention he emphasised the need for the EU to speak also with one voice to Libya in a bid to endorse this country's cooperation on illegal immigration.
"During this discussion, both Malta and Italy tried to look at the future rather than referring to the recent incident over the Pinar E. While both are holding their positions, we want to see the EU involving itself more concretely to help us face the problem," Dr Borg said.
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Mario Cortis
Apr 28th 2009, 22:04
Are you serious P. Cassar!!!! Both locally and in the European Parliament clearly shows that the PN candidates showed more motivation and a firm hand in regards to illegal immigration. Locally PL stated that this crisis of illegal immigration, the PN Government had a part of it and PL MEPs didn't do anything to stop their Socialists members not to propose the right for immigrants to vote...... together with that you can have a look at the track record of how the PL MEPs voted in the EU parliament and facts can speak for themselves.....
Victor Mamo
Apr 28th 2009, 19:15
Mr Cassar
Why did not Dr Muscat act on this while he was MEP? He spent 4 years in the EP and not once did he mention immigration
Charles Sammut
Apr 28th 2009, 18:43
@ P Cassar
There have been people who foresaw this problem years ago and were ostracised hauled to court and called all sort of names for their efforts.
Joseph Muscat and the PL are just jumping on th bandwagon now that MEP elections are on the doorstep. I would never trust the socialists on the issue of immigration because they have a long history of favouring it all over Europe.
louise vella
Apr 28th 2009, 17:53
“reinforcement of Frontex”
Up to now Frontex has failed as a project and has failed us too, because it became a pull factor for illegal immigrants and a ferry service for them to travel to Lampedusa, Sicily and Malta
Frontex should be beefed up and given a clear mission: to stop the influx and defend southern Europe from the soft invasion of illegal immigrants. In so doing it will be defending northern Europe too, because many of the illegal immigrants (as we know) want to go to Germany, France, Britain and Sweden.
C Vella
Apr 28th 2009, 14:07
@P.Cassar
Take a look at the latest online poll on this website, then take into consideration the up coming event this June.
It's the same old song and dance. I've only been living in Malta for 6 years, but in that time it has become overwhelmingly apparent how things work here.
Wait till July as that is when we will really see how much the people in power care about controlling illegal immigration
P.Cassar
Apr 28th 2009, 13:24
Thank God that after a long slumber the PN has woken up. But did it really need the Italian prodding when in Malta Joseph Muscat and all the PL have been saying this for weeks. Is the PN so far removed from common sernse?