Friday, 10th July 2009
Immigration
France wants other countries to follow burden-sharing example
About 92 migrants left for France yesterday, embarking on a journey into a new future that has been secured by a responsibility-sharing initiative between the French and Maltese authorities.
The relocation was France's response to Malta's appeal to share the burden of immigration, said French Ambassador Daniel Rondeau, who wants to "pull" other EU countries to follow suit.
The pilot project was the first, but not the last, and Mr Rondeau said the French government was considering doing it again next year. "But we would not like to be alone", he insisted, seeing off and embracing the migrants at Malta International Airport.
He said yesterday was a "momentous" day for everyone.
France is the first country to implement the project that was tailor-made for Malta and agreed upon by EU leaders last month. It is also a response to the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, dating back to last October.
The migrants, who reached Malta illegally after fleeing Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, the Ivory Coast and Sri Lanka, stayed for an average of four years, enjoying international protection.
They are being transported to three towns in northern France, where they will be put up in reception centres for a maximum of six months and assisted in the process of integration in France by the Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII). They will be taught the language and learn about French culture.
They are being offered support for housing, food and clothing, medical care and treatment, employment services and other forms of assistance during the transition period to self-sufficiency.
Of the 92 migrants, 74 were adults, five children and 13 infants. They were all smiles yesterday, eager for a new life and to be able to "settle", armed with a travel information guide, a preparatory course... and lots of luggage.
A 25-year-old woman from Eritrea and her 10-month-old son were waiting to board the plane. Although she was happy to be leaving, excited about the prospect of a change, she had been fine in Malta over the last three years, working as a housekeeper.
"I want to be settled, which means I want to have regular documents; to have citizenship; to be legal. If there was peace in my country, I would go home. I consider myself lucky," she said.
A 26-year-old Somali, who has been in Malta for one year, agreed with others that the only problem was the size of the island: "There is no space".
"I look forward to starting a new future but I cannot forget Malta because we had good facilities here and the Maltese helped and respected us. It's a social society and I had a good job in a hotel. The only thing is that France is larger and offers more opportunities," he said.
The International Organisation for Migration said the selection process was carried out by the French government and based on a variety of criteria, including whether they had family in France and could speak some French. It was tasked with implementing the pilot project by the French Immigration Ministry.
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Comments
Louise's comment is hardly nasty!
I'm afraid Ms Richards you are in the minority whether you like it or not. I and many of my European fellows will never accept illegal invasion by foreigners. Nobody does have the right actually to burden themselves on others. I do not see why we have to feed, house, clothe, medical care, educate their children and give them social benefit to live on each week. My children come first - born in Britain, me and their father working tax payers, taxes that are used to support people that enter illegally and scrounge off the rest of us. As far as genuine refugees, that is all very well, but our countries are FULL UP! Our infrastructures cannot cope, doctors surgeries full,hospitals full, schools full, no spare housing! When is the onus on Europe going to end? We can hardly take the whole of Africa! I am sure they are going off to a wonderful new life in France! I personally resent even paying their air fares to get there, let alone their new accommodation etc. Outrageous!
NO corine, we do not need third world country workers to do our jobs. Maltese workers will do all jobs if they are reasonably paid and they are given good working conditions. Immigrants especially from third word countries undercut the Maltese workers and lower the Maltese workers working conditions. Those who take the risks to enter ILLEGALLY into Malta should face the consequences and we should not put our soldiers lives at risk to save them and they should NOT be allowed to claim refugee of humanitarian status and should be repatriated forthwith. Since you said you are studying international law you can join them back in their own countries and help them there with your expertise.
A Cassar They can go back to Libya from whence they came. They were under no threat there since some of them have been living for up to 10 years in Libya as stated in the Refugee Appeals Board report.
David Wain They are simply ECONOMIC migrants as exemplified by those who were taken by France who on being interviewed said they were simply looking for a better life.
Let's take Berlusconi's example and turn their boats back.
@Corinne Gatt: I'm one who appreciates Stephen Farrugia's group.
@a cassar: I somewhat agree with you. But last I checked Libya is a safe country for them to stay in. When they leave safe Libya they become illegal immigrants.
@ Michelle Dali: This illegal immigrant understands Malta's problem and the do-gooders don't.
I'm baffled.
@louise vella; You are the best. Keep up the good work.
What are you talking about? Didn't you read the article? Do you realise that these very people are saying that the Maltese helped and respected them?
Why are you always so quick to pick on and discredit the Maltese? Are you so blinded by your hatred of the Maltese people that you can't see any good in us at all? Who is really the racist here, I wonder?
I would just like to remind you that there is good and bad in every country in the world. Open your eyes and you will see....take off your blinkers for one moment, if you would.
In any country (including Malta) which signs the Geneva convention, it is NOT illegal to enter the country to ask for refugee status.
That Malta has a problem, everyone agrees.
That a solution must be found to prevent this influx to protect us and them, everyone agrees. That, if possible, they should remain in their country....I think it is every refugee's dream to be home, in safety and without danger.
But anyone who doesn't care about the safety and wellbeing of other human beings doesn't deserve to be called one!
If we follow France's example , europe will end up like them with Ghettos and no-go areas everywhere
It is so nice to read that this man, who came to our country illegally, is grateful for what Malta and its people have done for him. After all the criticism that has been showered on Malta, which has been struggling to cope under the strain of an unending influx of human beings, this comment is like a breath of fresh air.
However, he himself admits that in Malta 'there is no space', which is one of the very valid reasons why people are so concerned about the illegal immigration problem this country faces. We have been saying this to the government all along. Malta is already overpopulated. We cannot take in anymore illegal immigrants. For this we have been called racist and xenophobic.
Let us hope that the illegal arrivals have finally stopped for good and that the ones already here can be reallocated to larger countries or preferably back to their own homeland where they can work to build a better life for themselves and their children.
if it werent for Berlusconi we would have been swept by illegal immigrations
Agree with both of you.
I would like to thank Maroni and Berlusconi, for stopping the boats 14 miles out at sea. You are heros.
Now we have to remove the 10,000 illegal immigrants in Malta and ask questions about the national loyalty of some people.
Stephen Farrugia
( Nationalist majority against illegal immigration)
Bon voyage! But how many of them are still left in Malta?