Obligatory burden sharing could have disastrous consequences - Dutch minister
Obligatory burden sharing could have disastrous consequences for countries such as Malta as more asylum seekers would be attracted to make the treacherous journey to Europe, Dutch Justice State Secretary Nebahat Albayrak said this evening.
Speaking during a joint news conference with Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, Ms Albayrak said the immigration problem could only be solved with the cooperation of all 27 EU states.
She described Dr Mifsud Bonnici as the most active minister in the European Justice and Home Affairs council who, she said, was fighting effectively for Europe to address the immigration situation.
The Netherlands had been the first to share Malta’s problem by taking a number of immigrants but what was needed at this point was for all 27 EU states, especially those which did not have an immigration problem, to help out.
There had to be a common immigration policy in the EU and the Immigration Pact had been the first step towards this.
Asylum applications had to be assessed and processed as quickly as possible to decide who were the genuine applicants and who were not.
Ms Albayrak agreed with the proposal to set up an EU/UNHCR asylum office in Libya to help process migrants who could then be resettled in the EU.
This was what Malta was pushing for and it could be part of the solution.
On Italy’s policy to send immigrants back to Libya, Ms Albayrak said this had forced the EU to discuss the matter but repatriation should in future be done in a European framework to ensure that human rights were safeguarded. Europe, she said, had to send out the message that those who were not genuine refugees would be stopped and repatriated.
Contrary to what has been stated in reports about conditions at Malta's detention and open centres, Ms Albayrat said that although there was a lot of room for improvement, what Malta was offering was quite an achievement.
The state secretary said that although many were pessimistic and wanted things to move faster, a lot had been done in the past year and the EU was seriously moving forward on the issue but more countries needed to help out.
She said that a joint project for bilateral cooperation on immigration was being embarked upon in summer between Malta and the Netherlands.
The Netherlands had a lot of history and experience in immigration and it would assist Malta even with the provision of interpreters.
It would also support the main lines of the immigration project being proposed by European Commission vice-president Jacques Barrot next week.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici thanked Ms Albayrat for her support and said that Malta was in favour of obligatory burden sharing but the important thing was that it worked.
Ms Albayrat was taken to detention and open centres to take in the intensity of Malta’s problem.
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Joe Fenech
May 31st 2009, 14:53
Franck Mercieca:
The Europeans have exported culture and civilisation. Once they left most countries collapsed. See South Africa (collapsed in a couple of years of African rule), and Africa (including the Maghreb!). I know many won't admit it.... Won't be debating this. If some want to ignore it, then so be it!
FRANK MERCIECA
May 31st 2009, 13:51
''@Joe Fenech
"when we had problems in Europe we solved them ourselves". What planet are you living in?
We invaded half the world and bucthering millions of the indegeniuos peoples, in order to take their lands and wealth. The most cowerdly act Europe ever did ,not to mention genocide.
May we continue to help those in need, immaterial of colour, race or religion.
Joe Fenech
May 31st 2009, 11:15
NO TO BURDEN SHARING! Every country should deal with its own issues. Escaping problems, like the Africans do, is a short-term and easy solution and we should not put up with it!!!
Africa is going through what Europe went through centuries ago - when we had problems in Europe, we solved them ourselves. Now, so should Africa!
Ernest Vella
May 31st 2009, 07:00
I will hold UNHCR responsible for seeding in the Maltese a racist attitude for they are doing nothing to protect Malta...why Libya is so spoiled and Malta so beaten up...yes many of those people must be helped but not on behalf of the citizens of Malta...were is the UN now that we need her...or she get involved only in wars...something must be done....in Africa first and foremost and instead of investing in nukes help those people...
louise vella
May 30th 2009, 10:57
“Italy's move to send immigrants back to Libya forced the EU to …”
Italy’s move was the best thing ever done to deal with the illegal immigrants' crisis.
“she backed the proposal to set up an asylum agency in Libya by which migrants can be processed before being allocated to different EU member states.”
Why not to different African states?
“compulsory burden-sharing the government was pursuing could have "disastrous" consequences for Malta because it could attract more asylum-seekers to make the treacherous journey from Africa.”
We have been saying that for a long time.
“clear message to African migrants that unless they were genuine refugees they would be stopped at the border.”
Border control is of the essence.
lgalea
May 30th 2009, 07:45
Charles Sammut
Exactly as I have been saying all along.
Any Minister would be mad to take the burden of illegal immigrants of other countries especially as the vast majority or people do not want them and their problems considering everyone knows what happened in Brixton, Paris and other cities around europe. Those who think that other countries will be willing to take illegal immigrants voluntarily are naive as are those who think that the Ministers will agree to obligatory burden sharing.
There is only ONE solution. Either Libya takes them back or they are ALL repatriated without any one of them being allowed to claim asylum or humanitarian status. They could have done so while in Libya or during their crossing of the various African countries.
This also applies to all those who have overstayed their visas. Expulsion is the name of the game.
C.ZARB
May 30th 2009, 03:01
If certain European countries can afford not to accept illegal immigrants on their land then why can't we? Should illegal immigration be a problem to just those countries which lie at the EU borders?
malcolm seychell
May 30th 2009, 01:52
This will attract even more illegal immigrants. I do not trust UNHCR,
The only solutiion is to send them back to their country
This will fail like burden, sharing, frontex etc etc
'Ms Albayrak agreed with the proposal to set up an EU/UNHCR asylum office in Libya to help process migrants who could then be resettled in the EU.'
rosario caruana
May 30th 2009, 00:16
It - title hu l istess li qal lowell sitt snin ilu
charles zammit
May 30th 2009, 00:07
so we are now back to square one. thats where our government has put us... in a lose lose situation/and poor netherlands so they want to help us solve the problem dont make me laugh ms albayrak at least your country first bleeded those countries who are now producing gullits, sedorfs ricards by the thousands......
GF Cortini
May 30th 2009, 00:01
Charles Sammut: I appreciate your point about Ms. Albayrak being a turkish immigrant and all, but she's a naturalised citizen who is integrated enough to hold a ministerial post. I don't think where she was born is in any way relevant to the argument discussed (bir-rispett kollhu)
Would the fact that my father was Italian preclude me from commenting about things that happen in Malta for example? I am not any less Maltese than you are...
Alfred Farrugia
May 29th 2009, 23:38
Is obligatory burden sharing a problem for Malta, or for the Netherlands? What is the Dutch government’s quotum for the resettlement of refugees for the countries of origin of the immigrants that have reached Malta out of the total of 500 it intends to resettle? Could the Dutch State Secretary for Justice let us know whether the Netherlands has any intention of accepting some of the genuine refugees who are in Malta, and if in the affirmative, how many out of the 2,000 her government intends to resettle between 2008 and 2011? How many refugees has the Dutch government accepted from Malta so far?
http://www.irm.gov.hu/download/summary_of_ad_hoc_est_ad-hoc_query_on_immigr.quota.doc/summary_of_ad_hoc_est_ad-hoc_query_on_immigr.quota.doc
Does Ms. Nebahat Albayrak agree with the proposal made a few years ago by the Liberal (VVD) parliamentary party leader Frits Bolkestein concerning quotas to curb immigration?
http://www.nisnews.nl/dossiers/immigration/100393_8.htm
Is it not ironic that Ms. Albayrak became a member of the House of Representatives of the States General for the Labour Party (PvdA) in 1998, and a State Secretary in 2007?
http://www.government.nl/Government/Balkenende_IV_Government/Nebahat_Albayrak
Any support from her government is welcome.
Oswald Tanti
May 29th 2009, 23:06
In my humble opionion, burden should mean that the entire repatriation process for both legal and illelgal immigrants, should be responsibly shared and unertaken by all the 27 EU Nations and not just by the country/ies that are forced to accept them because of international conventions or their proximity to the North African Coast.
Muscat.Pat
May 29th 2009, 22:52
Double speak rules ok! What the Dutch minister wanted to say was that obligatory burden sharing would be disastrous FOR THEM!
You order we pay is no solution. Africans must be empowered to improve their lot at home. They have to fight against their corrupt leaders and stop blaming everyone but themselves for their predicament. We will not change our way of life , and our standard of living. Enoughis enough, we are full up. Gonzi wake up!
Joe Grima (Brussels)
May 29th 2009, 22:00
What the Dutch Minister says is all true, I'm afraid. I've been stressing this for months. Obligatory burden sharing will only send a very strong message to traffickers: 'keep 'em coming.' Yes, they know that if they can make it to Malta, they automatically get a ticket to the rest of Europe!!!
Let's say someone intends to settle in far off Sweden, or Finland. He knows that if he can make it ONLY as far as Malta, the EU will take him the rest of the way. That way, the numbers coming over will increase dramatically, flooding our tiny island, and putting more lives at risk.
The ONLY solution is to send them back, and provide ALL NEEDS to real refugees in Libya. Only by sending them back can we persuade them that it is not worth trying, and stop the trafficker's income.
Joseph Portelli
May 29th 2009, 21:26
Does 'Obligatory burden sharing' mean that every country has to fork out its share of the financial burden or does it include having to take in a proportion of the illegal immigrants 'who make to to Malta or Lampedusa as well even if it is against the wishes of the nation concerned? I agree with the former but not with the latter. Most EU countries would probably agree to contirbute financially but not to having illegal immigrants foisted on them against their wishes.
Charles Sammut
May 29th 2009, 21:11
"especially those which did not have an immigration problem, to help out."
It would be sheer madness for a country which did not have an immigration problem to create one for itself.
It is relevant to point out that Ms Albayrak is a Turkish immigrant in Holland.
Vincent Raimondo
May 29th 2009, 20:47
It is pretty obvious that no country in the EU wants to take in these illegal immigrants. The Italian solution is the only practical one. Send them back!!
E Gatt
May 29th 2009, 20:17
Obligatory burden sharing with an asylum office in Africa + immediate returns will not be disastrous for Malta. This would also mean less loss of life.
A Camilleri
May 29th 2009, 20:13
I couldn't agree more with Dutch Justice State Secretary Nebahat Albayrak . Her fears are identical to those of a great number of Maltese, including myself, who had expressed their opinions when Dr Gonzi floated the suggestion of burden sharing as a solution to the illegal immigration problem. I was surprised how adamant Dr Gonzi was to pursue this policy notwithstanding the clear observations that were proposed at the time.
I am also surprised how Dr Mifsud Bonnici, whilst thanking and accepting Dr Albayrak’s support is still resolute in accepting the burden sharing solution. This policy, besides attracting a greater influx of illegal immigrants towards our shores and Italy’s, is compelling other EU countries to shoulder a burden that they would definitely not like to undertake.
v mercieca
May 29th 2009, 20:04
I am afraid that if Libya does not play game and either stop these people from leaving its shores or else take them back, I see no other solution.
Neither Malta nor the EU can continue take up such influx and support them and giving them shelter.
Our government does not give shelter to our own citizens but it gives to these illegal immigrants and out of our tax Euro, and then it does not have enough money to pay decent pensions and other social services because of the drain of funds.
I believe that it is the ripe time that the EU would show its muscle like the US did in the min 90’s (for a different reason) and impose sanctions on Libya if they refuse to co-operate.
I Abela
May 29th 2009, 20:00
I hate to be a spoilsport but Malta is swimming against the current while the EU is ploughing water. The only country in Europe which is addressing the problem is Italy. Send them all back. Libya is a safe country. If they escaped from Somalia and reached Libya and worked there for some years to save up for the journey, they can keep on working there and live there. Absorbing all of Africa's population won't solve anything. Anzi it will create a bigger problem on another continent. If the EU really wanted to do something, it should start by tackling the problem at source.
Silvan Cutajar
May 29th 2009, 19:54
Dont know if stating the obvious. But how come we never hear of anyone being prosecuted after an investigation over illegal immigration. Surely people around the Mediterranean must be organising this illegal trafficking of persons. If these keep remaining uncaught, surely immigration continues to be a problem. If a few started getting caught, the activitity would reduce. perhaps when caught there should also be a law enabling the state to hold these criminals responsible for the money spent housing immigrants they brought in and made money from. that way tax payers money is reimbursed by who made illicit money from trafficking.
David Seychell
May 29th 2009, 19:28
"Obligatory burden sharing could have disastrous consequences for countries such as Malta as more asylum seekers would be attracted to make the treacherous journey to Europe, Dutch Justice State Secretary Nebahat Albayrak said this evening." This is exactly what I have been saying for the past year. Here's what I said on 4-10-2008 http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20080925/andrew-borg-cardona/yes-indeed "1) I am not day dreaming (like many seem to do here), I know that the EU DOESN'T want to be flooded with these irregular immigrants...and by accepting burden sharing (proportionally based) the EU knows that a HUGE exodus that not even the EU could digest would try to enter the EU. Hence burden sharing is definitely unacceptable to the EU and its citizens. 2) Africa's pop is 922 million while EU's is 499 million. Africa is (always was?) in chaos and the pop is rising very rapidly. Since Malta (because if its geo position) is like the EU's doorstep I would not like the idea of Malta being trampled by the greatest exodus of all time."