Ivan Camilleri
Burden-sharing could be permanent
The temporary burden-sharing sharing programme on illegal immigration announced by the EU earlier this month could become permanent after a clause was inserted into the Union's new five-year plan on justice and security.
A Commission official told The Sunday Times: "The Commission is displaying its intention to help Malta on a permanent basis. That is why the need for more solidarity and burden-sharing between member states has been inserted in our five-year objectives in the justice area."
The EU Stockholm programme is a five-year strategy with precise goals in the areas of freedom, justice and security through the introduction of new rules and programmes. The plan has to be endorsed by member states by the end of this year.
The Stockholm programme includes the creation of a Schengen visa, the strengthening of the Frontex border control agency, a common framework for immigration, and responsibility-sharing for the refugee reception and integration.
Currently, the EU cannot oblige member states to take asylum seekers, but the blueprint states that "there should be a common area of protection and solidarity through a single procedure and uniform international protection rules".
Until now, member states have sought shelter behind the voluntary nature of such solidarity.
France and Germany have expressed willingness to take refugees from Malta, but they refuse to be instructed to do so. Italy and Malta, on the other hand, are pressuring the Commission to propose a mandatory mechanism.
"Apart from launching our temporary pilot project, so that refugees and other people with humanitarian status on the island can move and resettle in other member states, we want this system to become a permanent structure as we believe that this is the way forward so that member states can share responsibility," the Commission official said.
Another EU official said that although EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot is working on a pilot project for the distribution of refugees to ease the pressure on Malta, he is sticking to the line of a voluntary system.
"Although he already knows that there will be opposition by certain member states, particularly the northern ones, Mr Barrot's proposals still go beyond the bilateral aspect of this solidarity, mentioning the precise establishment of a voluntary mechanism for redistribution between member states and common treatment of asylum requests," the official said.
According to the draft proposals, in the longer term the Commission will be calling for "mutual recognition of all protection decisions, which will facilitate protection transfers". The proposals state that a redistribution mechanism must be considered and give details on how this should be done.
An initial voluntary stage would provide financial support for this initiative from the European Refugee Fund. Permanent platforms for reception and transit could also be developed in certain member states, as well as specific arrangements for a partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Next year the EU is aiming to set up a European asylum support office to provide technical assistance to those member states most affected by immigration problems.
Malta has shown interest in hosting this new EU agency; however, a decision has not yet been taken.
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M. Mercieca
Jun 15th 2009, 13:15
What Democracy?
I sometimes fail to comprehend people’s appreciation of democracy. Absolute democracy and absolute freedom (of any thing) never existed anywhere in the world at any given point of time. All democracies have fangs for self-protection. If anybody think otherwise then dwelling in illusion
Democracy also means: Safeguarding and observing Minorities rights. The latter could be of any religious group, peoples of different sexual orientation and for those matter also illegal immigrants.
EU-Ireland democracy style.
Reaction of the EU leaders to the Irish NO result has sent couple of unpleasant signals:
• In referendum, a No result does necessarily means a NO. (Malta, Dr. Sant -style)
• Peoples, are welcomed only to express opinions that powerful ‘elite ‘organizations want them to express (Zimbabwe, Mugabi –style)
Pretending to dismiss Irish opinion, as the European leaders are doing now, risks turning a democratic deficit into a democratic chasim.
In real democracy, people’s opinion must be counted. If not, over the coming years we will see more controversial issues are going to be loaded onto the EU, and at the same time its slender support in public opinion withers further.
G Darmanin
Jun 15th 2009, 08:17
"Another EU official said that although EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot is working on a pilot project for the distribution of refugees to ease the pressure on Malta, he is sticking to the line of a voluntary system."
If I am not mistaken when Jacques Barrot was in Malta he was quoted as saying that that burden sharing has to be mandatory! So, is Mr Barrot saying one thing infront of the Maltese but then pushing the interests of his own country ("FRANCE and Germany have expressed willingness to take refugees from Malta, but they refuse to be instructed to do so")? Can we trust in a man who comes from a country (and government) that do not want mant mandatory burden sharing?
C.ZARB
Jun 15th 2009, 07:41
@ Ms Richards
I think that Malta (as a past colony) knows exactly what 'European' democracy is, just like the Africans who had been living under colonisation and has to bear its consequences. You just have to talk with our elders who had suffered war and lost their houses in the name of the British crown to then end up with just a tin medal and a special thanks from the king.
Now there are many ways to express racism. There are the violent thugs who break people bones (they could be white or black). There are those who cherrypick which crimes to highlight in a bid to promote their agenda (there are many crimes done by foreigners over Maltese and yet no one had ever organised protests against that). And then there are those selective few that hide after treaties such as the Dublin convention to keep immigrants away from the Europe that count. In few words small countries like ours have to bear an overwhelming ammount of immigrants while others can cherry pick which immigrants they want to take through voluntary burden sharing. Doesn't that remind you of a slave market? Different times, Same Europe.
Charles Sammut
Jun 14th 2009, 22:59
@ Margaret Richards
Democracy in the dictionary of people like you, means that everybody is free to say what he likes as long as it is what you think.
Don't preach to us about democracy. In my dictionary democracy means that you are free to leave if you don't like it here. Try the Democratic Republic of Congo, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for a change. Their name implies that you'll feel at home there.
Even if burden sharing were to somehow be accepted by EU countries, it would still be wrong. The EU is our home as well since we form part of it now. It is a bit like sweeping up the dust in your hallway and then spreading it about the rest of the house. Forget it.
shan mcgonigle
Jun 14th 2009, 22:42
Well said Joseph Vella
M. Mercieca
Jun 14th 2009, 21:53
If the illegal immigrants are so much of a problem for the whole Europe and illegal immigrants are going to destabilize Europe, and (the whole list of bla bla every body knows it ) Why the far-right parties across Europe didn’t make a hit through the ballot box? And why the same miserable result we have just had it in Malta? Actually the far-right parties all together didn’t mange to get more than 3 digits number through the ballot boxes. Any explanation please?
How many times I read 'look what happened in UK because of illegal immigrans' ....why not one single far-right MEP was elected then?
Don't get me wrong please. I am not saying illegal immigrants is not a problem, but don't you think the desperate far-right parties are expanding the issue for political gains?
Joseph Vella
Jun 14th 2009, 20:58
@Margaret Richards
I will answer your posted questions Ms. Margaret Richards
“Where am I living??”
In Malta
“In which society??”
In a society that spends over 8 Million Euros a year on Illegal Immigrants and at the same time in a society where for a Maltese citizen to have an eye cataract operation, she/he has to wait 4 or 5 years!
Also, this same society does not afford to have a breast screening system in operation because of lack of funds, even though about 250 persons die every year from breast cancer!
My god the more time passes the more I feel uncomfortable with people like you!
Margaret Richards
Jun 14th 2009, 19:56
Racism and xenophobia at its best!!! So much for a democratic society!!! Where am I living?? In which society?? My god the more time passes the more I feel uncomfortable with people like a good number of commentators - have your pick - upholding racism and xenophobia.
lgalea
Jun 14th 2009, 18:43
J Farrugia, m azzopardi, Malcolm Farrugia
Not only do I agree but I have been saying it for ages that not a single illegal immigrant must be allowed to remain here.
Malcolm Farrugia
Jun 14th 2009, 15:36
Most probably burden sharing is just a political scam. Which country that is lucky enough not to be invade by africans will accept any clandestine group? I really hope that one of these days the maltese politicians of both sides, will realize that the problems of african people are not our problems at all, and instead of feeding and clothing them they shouls use the money for national causes, like subsidizing the utility tarriffs. Why should we help african illegals when we have our own problems to solve, one of which surely is the national deficit.
m azzopardi
Jun 14th 2009, 14:15
burden sharing sends the wrong message that the boats can continue coming because now not only Malta accepts them but all european countries.
The real and only solution is to send the boats back to Libya.
J Farrugia
Jun 14th 2009, 14:14
This is all poppycock. No european country wants illegal immigrants from other countries to continue distabilising their own countries. Just a look at what happened at the MEP elections in europe shows an upsurge of far right parties who will obviously NOW, urge their own countries not to take in any illegal immigrants. Not only that But I percieve that they will shut down their frontiers since they will have a strong voice at the EP. They will certainly not accept the concept being urged by the EU Commission about burden sharing. They have their countries' best interests at heart.
Peter Borg
Jun 14th 2009, 11:15
"Until now, member states have sought shelter behind the voluntary nature of such solidarity."
If it's voluntary, of what use is it? (except, of course, to have bigwigs flying about the world and fine-dining in a different city every other day, in the name of burden sharing and solidarity)