Italy insists on EU burden sharing, says latest proposals not enough
Italy today joined Malta in appealing to the European Union to oblige member states to share the burden by taking in migrants.
Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said before a meeting with EU counterparts in Luxembourg that recent proposals from the executive European Commission on asylum were "interesting, but ... not sufficient".
"We asked for obligatory burden sharing, the proposal foresees a voluntary system -- so those who don't want to needn't take in any refugees," he told reporters.
In a Financial Times interview published today, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi called the Commission proposals a step forward, but expressed disappointment that fellow EU states had not agreed to take on asylum seekers.
Maroni said Libya, to where Italy has returned migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean, had given him concrete requests for help from Europe to fight illegal immigration and he would pass these to EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot.
Barrot has criticised Italy's recent decision to return migrant ships intercepted on the voyage across the Mediterranean from Libya, saying it did not distinguish between illegal migrants and those deserving asylum.
He has proposed that the European Union work with the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) to set up screening centres for asylum seekers in Africa to stop them falling into the clutches of human-trafficking networks.
He has urged UNHCR to work with Libya to establish a scheme for receiving and protecting asylum seekers that meets international standards.
Maroni has argued that Italy's policy is working and the arrival of migrant boats from north Africa has practically stopped, but it has been sharply criticised by non-governmental organisations dealing with refugees.
Yesterday, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, a network of 69 refugee assisting organisations in 30 countries, said Italy should face sanctions under EU rules for "flagrant violation" of human rights principles.
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Franco Xuereb
Jun 4th 2009, 17:55
At this stage it is irrelevant what the European Commission says, Jacques Barrot. and la bella companija failed to deliver and that's the end of the story.
The burden sharing, as I have stated previously will never work, and now we have the proposed obligatory burden sharing but neither this will work. On the contrary it will just encourage more illegal immigrants to try their luck by cross to Europe for a better life.
I for one congratulate the Italian Government for taking a stand and got hold of the bull by it's horn to solve this problem once and for all, and not wait for the European Commission to take a stand on this issue which has been dragging its feet for too long to take action and repatriate.
We the Maltese own a big THANK YOU to the Italian Government for taken such action, as if we had to wait to the European Commission to decide this year Malta would have been invaded by these unwanted people.
On the contrary Italy had showed our Government that in the interest of your country one can act independently and not wait for the bureaucrats in Brussels to decide for us.
john micallef
Jun 4th 2009, 17:32
about time that some big european nation stood up. why did this issue wait for so long? and is it a coincidence that the mep elections are close by that the illegal immigrant arrivals stopped?
J Farrugia
Jun 4th 2009, 17:31
@ P Cassar - Joseph doesnt enter the equation. It was the people who pricked the PM and the government to take immediate action on these invaders. the labour party just wants popularity at the people's expense. No dice man. And please learn some civil manners on how to address people. especially important ones if you know what education and being civil means.
P.Cassar
Jun 4th 2009, 16:50
Dear Gonzi
Now you may start learning how to be tough in negotiations because both Joseph Muscat and now the Italians are putting their feet down not JUST PLEADING with the EU.
And please don't tell us agian that Joseph did not tell you all this several times but you just disregarded him and us.
David Muscat
Jun 4th 2009, 16:45
If Malta is anything to go by, the "69 refugee assisting organisations in 30 countries" consist of no more than 500 members at most.
The "refugee assisting organisations" conveniently forget that most immigrants had lived for years in Libya without coming to any harm before trying to go to Europe. The Maltese refugee commission's findings proved this. Do these "refugee assisting organisations " know that in 5 years out of a total of 11,000 immigrants only 204 were real refugees. The others were economic migrants. I'm sure that if they checked Italy's statisitics they would be similar to Malta's.
These organisations should take them in themselves if they feel so strongly about it , but they should not expect us taxpayers to foot the bill or help in any way..
I wouldn't be surprised if their main concern is their EU funds drying up if the immigration problem is solved.