Updated: Adds PL reaction

The European Union today announced a pilot 'burden sharing' project tailor made for Malta's needs to tackle illegal immigration.

The announcement was made this afternoon in Luxembourg by EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot during an EU meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers.

Mr Barrot said that the Commission has been given the mandate by member states to launch a pilot intra-community voluntary relocation programme for Malta. He said that this was a very important step in Malta's fight against illegal immigration as it was not only the first time ever that such a programme would be introduced but it would also translate statements of solidarity from member states into action.

EU sources said that the programme should be up and running this summer and would provide the opportunity for refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection currently in Malta to move and resettle in other EU member states.

The EU programme will be modelled on a similar programme currently operated between Malta and the US.

Speaking to timesofmalta.com, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said that this was 'another important step for Malta' and showed that 'the EU is reacting positively to Malta's suggestions and needs.'

"The government is working with perseverance and determination and we are leaving no stone unturned,' he said.

On the other hand, Commissioner Barrot said that during today's discussion showed that there was as yet no consensus on 'obligatory' burden sharing as some member states remained opposed to the idea. However he said that the pilot project specifically for Malta should be just the start and Malta would be able to continue to ease its burden.

LABOUR REACTION

The Labour Party in a reaction said it was disappointed that some EU countries were resisting mandatory burden-sharing, as declared by Mr Barrot.

Malta was carrying a disproportionate burden and the other EU countries needed to shoulder part of it too, the party said.

It said this reinforced its view that the Maltese government should have held out for mandatory burden sharing. Voluntary burden sharing, which included Mr Barrot's latest scheme, had already been tested and shown not to work, the party said.

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