EU Commission discusses illegal immigration today
All 27 European Commissioners will this morning discuss a set of new concrete proposals aimed at helping Malta and Italy face the immigration problem.
Sources close to the Commission said last night the "extraordinary meeting" of the College of Commissioners was arranged over the past days on the personal initiative of President Josè Manuel Barroso following promises he made to Malta and Italy recently. The sources said the meeting would focus exclusively on illegal migration in the Mediterranean and proposals made by Malta and Italy would be discussed and decided upon.
According to the sources, Brussels will propose working with Tripoli and the UN refugee agency UNHCR to set up an asylum vetting centre in Libya and will also take up Malta's proposal to set up a mechanism to redistribute among other European countries immigrants granted international protection. The news comes as Libya was called upon to meet Italy and Malta on illegal immigration next month in Rome.
The invitation was extended by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and his Italian counterpart, Franco Frattini following talks on illegal immigration in Rome.
Malta backed Italy's policy to repatriate to Libya migrants rescued in international waters, Dr Borg said.
The two ministers congratulated Libya for working on solutions to this human tragedy over the past few weeks.
The tone of voice used now by both foreign ministers come in stark contrast to that of a couple of weeks ago when Malta and Italy were locked in a bitter dispute over which country was responsible to take in illegal immigrants rescued at sea.
The diplomatic spat saw Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi expressing his "disgust" at the Italians' refusal to rescue people out at sea, which was countered by an equally strong reaction by Mr Frattini, who accused Malta of reneging on its legal obligations.
The incident started when a cargo ship had been refused entry into Lampedusa after rescuing about 140 migrants off the coast of Lampedusa.
The Times is also informed that immigration will feature at next month's EU summit to be held in Brussels. After initially saying he did not see the need for the special immigration summit suggested by Italy, Mr Barroso decided to call upon the Czech presidency to include immigration on the agenda of the June EU leaders' meeting. The presidency accepted Mr Barroso's suggestion.
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Margaret Richards
May 27th 2009, 21:57
Ms M'L Vella, it's true that most of African regions are rich with raw materials but it's also true that cheap labour and exploitation is the order of the day, not only there but in all countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other failed states. That's why I do not buy things at excessive prices coming from such places, because I know that behind the manufacturing of these products there is child labour, exploitation, and violence. That's why I prefer to promote Fair Trade items. At least i'll be really contributing to help these countries. So do some research before writing.
Joseph Cauchi
May 27th 2009, 18:50
The invasion is on the way!
Wait after the 6th.
This is THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM!
Embrace it!
../..
lgalea
May 27th 2009, 18:17
Lorry Coleiro
You are right.
Wait for the election to finish and we shall see a new invasion.
J Spiteri
May 27th 2009, 17:15
Damian Galea,
" it is thanks to a PN MEP that the European Parliament is now proposing a principle of systematic and mandatory burden sharing ! "
No, dear, you are wrong! If you recall correctly, in September of 2008, and NOT now that an election is behind the doors, Dr. Joseph Muscat had insisted already that the burding sharing must not be voluntary but mandatory. But don't feel bad about yourself ... it's not really YOUR fault but the fault of the channel you watch which chooses to broadcast selective and twisted news!!!
louise vella
May 27th 2009, 15:46
The place of African refugees is in Africa, a vast continent, rich in raw materials, where most countries live in peace. Why should African refugees come to Europe?
Lorry Coleiro
May 27th 2009, 13:49
Inspite of the warm, nice weather, with calm seas there were NO new arrivals or boats reported neither in Lampedusa or close to Malta.
Those who control most of the Illegal departures to Europe are holding back because it will help Far Right plans of action to bear fruit via election in the EU parliament.
I can think of no other reason.
We shall be inundated with hundreds of immigrants after June the 6th!
Joanne Micallef
May 27th 2009, 13:12
Lets be positive and imagine that the UNHCR office in Libya becomes a reality, it is very obvious that it will take some time before it is properly set up, so I ask, what is going to happen in the meantime?
Joseph V. Grech
May 27th 2009, 12:05
Well done to Mr. Barroso for now deciding to make illegal immigration ''feature at next month's EU summit'' after initially saying he did not ''see the need'' for the special immigration summit.
HOPEFULLY Europe's representatives in Brussels and Strasbourg WILL NOW tackle all forms of illegal immigration - not just that originating from Africa - with a strong determination. It's not just a matter of offering Financial Help!!! Surely they do not want Europe to be destabilised - it has enough economic and unemployment woes! Europe's leaders should be resolute and put the interests of the continent FIRST AND FOREMOST - . not giving in to the irresponsible requests of ''holier than thou'' so called NGOs who expect Malta, Italy, etc. to accept the thousands of illegals unreservedly. Malta is being invaded and we expect Brussels to STOP this invasion. Not just offer us money! We will not have our country destabilised the way Italy, France, UK, Spain are being destabilised by this phenomenon. Europe needs to put pressure where pressure is needed in order to STOP this dangerous illegality. Otherwise our leaders will not be acting in the true interests of their countries and of a united Europe.
mario gellel
May 27th 2009, 11:16
What about the thousants already in Malta? Are they gonna be included,or is it gonna be
WHOSE IN IS IN AND WHOSE OUT IS OUT?
Stehen Farrugia
May 27th 2009, 10:55
The only thing that is " extraordinary " is their incompetence. Now we Maltese, know how to take care of this problem in the coming MEP election because " breed understands breed".
We only trust Maroni and Berlusconi because Frattini has never delivered anything but trouble, with the MSF report to the press and wanted to turn Malta into a immigration camp.
Credibility is on the rocks here. This election is only about immigration. The choice is simple: more of the same failures or a strong stand. No more and no less !
lgalea
May 27th 2009, 10:52
What the vast majority of Maltese citizens want is the repatriation or the sending back of ALL ILLEGAL immigrants back to Libya even those that are already here.
AAAAAAAALLLLLLLL ILLEGAL immigrants including those who reach our territorial sea or land in Malta must be sent back to Libya, not only those intercepted on the high seas. If they want they can claim asylum in Libya.
We are all fed up with talking, talking and talking but never anything being done.
WE WANT ACTION NOT WORDS.
GET ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OUT OF MALTA NOW.
damian galea
May 27th 2009, 10:51
These are all clear signs that the efforts of diplomacy and perseverance can lead to a real solution.
Joseph Muscat says that PN is soft on the issue, but it is thanks to a PN MEP that the European Parliament is now proposing a principle of systematic and mandatory burden sharing !
What have the PL MEPs done in this regard?
Charles Sammut
May 27th 2009, 10:26
Why should African 'refugees' be settled in Europe? Isn't it bad enough that large areas of Europe now look like foreign countries? Should this destruction continue?
Africa is a huge continent, most of it is peaceful, so why should Africans be settled in Europe. This is simply adding fuel to a dangerous smouldering fire of resentement, sometimes mistaken for racism, already burning in Europe. Whatever the happy clappy, liberal, we are all brothers and sisters crowd claim, multi anything, is a recipe for unrest. Cultures, ethnicities, religions and races do not mix comfortably.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
May 27th 2009, 10:07
Ma ninhtiegux izjed kliem. Is-soluzzjoni kif dejjem ghidt qegheda fil-Libja. Jergghu jittiehdu hemm l-immigranti illegali kollha. Ikun hemm ufficju tal-UNHCR hemm kif propost minn Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici
Joe Grima (Brussels)
May 27th 2009, 10:04
HALLELUJAH! (My apologies for not being able to find a means of printing this word in 30 centimeter letters!)
So the five points I mentioned in my comments yesterday, for the letter 'Constructive, positive and mature...' do seem to make some sense after all! Tackling the problem at its roots, will give all the results I mentioned yesterday. AND I believe most Maltese agree with them, I hope!
It's just a question of common sense!