EU Commissioner stays out of dispute

The EU Justice Commissioner again chose not to get involved in the immigration dispute between Malta and Italy as Maltese MEP Simon Busuttil yesterday made an impassioned plea for the European Commission to intervene.

Speaking in the European Parliament, Dr Busuttil attacked Italy's behaviour and urged the Commission to ask Italy to respect its international obligations.

While recognising the difficulties Malta and Italy faced, Commissioner Jacques Barrot took a diplomatic stance, making sure not to offend either side.

"This is not only a problem for Malta and Italy.

"I visited both Malta and Lampedusa recently and brought together the two ministers concerned. I will raise the issue again with them during the Justice and Home Affairs Council at the beginning of June.

"However, I agree this is not something that can be left to these two countries because it is something that concerns us all," he said.

This echoes what he had said after meeting the interior ministers of both countries following the Pinar E. incident involving 140 illegal immigrants.

Dr Busuttil took the floor during a debate in the EP chamber at Strasbourg on a package of reforms to the EU's asylum rules to be voted upon today.

While reminding MEPs of the rhetoric about the need for increased solidarity between member states on illegal immigration, he updated them on the incident that was taking place off Lampedusa yesterday where the Italian authorities were once again refusing to intervene and lend their help.

"Italy's behaviour - or better still, that of Minister Maroni - is illegal with regards to international law, abusive in Malta's case and inhuman with regards to the illegal immigrants.

This behaviour dishonours Italy's reputation," Dr Busuttil charged.

He said Italy's non-action was sending the wrong message: that if a country intervened to save illegal immigrants it also had to stick with them and host them. This would deter countries and boats from giving their help, he said.

Dr Busuttil's appeal raised the ire of Italian MEP Mario Borgezio, elected on the right wing Lega Nord's ticket, who defended Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni's stance and accused Malta of using "unclear" tactics which sometimes were not very ethical.

Contacted by The Times, a spokesman for Mr Barrot said he had nothing to add to the commissioner's comments and that Mr Barrot was not planning to intervene on this issue.