Burden sharing on illegal immigration: We will get there

Last year, Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, along with another three EPP colleagues from Greece, Spain and Cyprus, proposed a pilot project on burden sharing and secured €10 million in the EU budget to finance it.

In May, this year, the European Parliament voted to support the establishment of a mandatory (as against voluntary) burden sharing mechanism by 2011.

In July, France agreed to take 92 migrants from Malta benefitting from international protection. This solidarity initiative was a first by an EU country since the signing of the EU Immigration and Asylum Pact last October.

This month, the European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot is announcing an EU resettlement initiative as well as a pilot project for a burden sharing mechanism tailor-made specifically for Malta.

This pilot project will be the first intra-EU resettlement project set up at a European level. The fact that it is going to specifically cater for Malta's needs speaks volumes about the country's success in putting immigration firmly on the EU agenda.

Slowly but surely we are getting there. And get there we must. For we know that a human tragedy is taking place in the Mediterranean and the loss of lives must be stopped once and for all.

We know that immigrants rescued on the high seas by the Maltese search and rescue teams are set to reach the European continent and not the Maltese shores as such. And we know that southern EU member states cannot be expected to police the external borders of the Union or to shoulder the responsibility of hosting immigrants on their own.

These are compelling reasons why a common European immigration policy is warranted and the EPP group is squarely behind Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's administration position on this issue.

In the European Parliament, the EPP group has been the leading advocate for a common immigration policy that works and has been pushing for real European solidarity with countries, like Malta, which face a disproportionate burden. Although we appreciate that EU governments have been slow to act because of the sensitivity of this issue, we feel that there is no escaping reality any longer.

This is why during this new parliamentary legislature we will continue to insist on measures to strengthen the EU external borders, to combat illegal immigration and the criminal organisations behind it, to push for the return of irregular migrants and to press for effective cooperation with countries of origin and with transit countries like Libya.

We will also support initiatives intended to open a route for a legal form of migration and remain mindful of the needs and rights of immigrants seeking protection.

Crucially for us, a common European immigration policy needs to hinge on solidarity between member states, especially with those like Malta which are excessively exposed to mass influx of migrants. That is why we will welcome the pilot project proposed by the European Commission's vice president, Jacques Barrot, for a burden sharing mechanism tailor-made for Malta.

Busuttil, my colleague, was recently elected as the EPP coordinator in the parliamentary committee responsible for civil liberties, justice and home affairs. His task will be to lead our group in this increasingly important committee. His election to this position of responsibility is a message that speaks for itself.

As the new parliamentary mandate starts, the EPP is committed to continue supporting Malta on the issue of immigration.

Mr Daul is chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.