Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Voluntary solidarity is a joke – Busuttil
Turning a blind eye
Voluntary solidarity on illegal immigration and asylum was not working and Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil yesterday reiterated his call for the introduction of compulsory burden sharing.
Dr Busuttil was addressing a Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament dedicated to the state of play of negotiations among the 27 EU member states on the Asylum Package, a set of five legislative proposals dealing with migration and asylum.
Dr Busuttil, who leads the EPP group on immigration issues, described this dossier as “defining” and said the council, representing member states, should act on this package.
“This is a defining dossier, and the ball is clearly in the Council’s court... This matter is all about solidarity, and voluntary solidarity is really a joke. Some countries don’t want to help,” Dr Busuttil told MEPs.
His remarks follow last month’s announcement by the EU executive that just six member states had responded positively to the European Commission’s call for voluntary participation in an intra-EU programme designed to resettle asylum seekers stuck in Malta.
The Labour Party has long been criticising the government on the voluntary aspect of burden sharing and Dr Busuttil’s comments must sound like music to its ears.
However, when asked whether he was agreeing with Labour by calling voluntary solidarity a “joke”, Dr Busuttil said this was not the case.
“No, I am not agreeing with Labour at all... Voluntary solidarity was just a first step and it was better than nothing. But it was never a final step and we must persist until we achieve true solidarity,” he said.
“Unlike Labour, I do not point my finger at the government, which has, and is, working remarkably hard to make solidarity work, but at EU member states which are still turning a blind eye to what is happening in the Mediterranean and pretending this is not their problem. Rest assured I will keep on insisting until they get the message,” he told The Times.
During the committee’s meeting, member states were harshly criticised by other MEPs.
“I don’t want to hear about voluntary measures,” said Dutch Liberal MEP Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the rapporteur on the revision of the Dublin regulation, which determines which member state is responsible for processing an asylum application.
She said so far, the Council preferred a system for sharing this burden voluntarily with southern member states, while the EP advocated a compulsory solidarity burden-sharing mechanism.
On the revision of the reception of asylum seekers directive, which introduces stricter conditions at reception centres, Socialist Spanish rapporteur Antonio Masip-Hidalgo accused member states of not moving in their discussions despite the EP’s green light.
“Why is this proposal at a dead end in Council?” he asked. “We need to deal with this matter expeditiously.”
The Council representative present for the meeting admitted that member states were still sceptical about this directive saying: “We are far from having any common position that could be taken even to informal talks with the EP.”
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Mark Cushcieri
Oct 10th 2009, 20:30
I find a contradiction in this news item...the topic is..
Voluntary solidarity is a joke – Busuttil - ( so are we to take it that this is a quote from Dr.Simon Busuttil)
then...
However, when asked whether he was agreeing with Labour by calling voluntary solidarity a “joke”, Dr Busuttil said this was not the case.
so is it a joke or isn't it a joke Dr.Busutill...was it a waste of time or you think taking 5 immigrants from us solved anything?
C.R. Taliana
Oct 9th 2009, 09:34
Is-soltu bla bla bla bla li jsir go Brussels! YAWN! Bhallikieku ser jinbidel xi haga!
j.spiteri
Oct 9th 2009, 07:43
Dr. Busuttil has to admit that the EU has no respect whatsoever towards Malta and it's Citizens. It is pointless to keep defending the organization as if it was the only solution for our salvation from this misery we are in. It is very convenient for the other member states to have the illegal immigrants looped in this noose called Malta. He has to understand that they care only for their countries interests not ours. They couldn't care less.
B. Zammit
Oct 9th 2009, 07:26
I would rather assess closely how PL MEPs vote at the EP, as so far there has been lots of bla bla bla from their side but when it comes to the vote its another story. They should remember they are representing who entrusted them and vote in the interest of the country.
Stephen Vella
Oct 9th 2009, 03:38
Now finally we sarted to realise that in this problem we are on our own. What is worse is that with the Lisbon Treaty we cannot use our Veto.... So all we have to do is sit back and let the illegal immigrants come to our Island. This is what the Gonzi PN wants.
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 9th 2009, 02:05
To all those who are asking ..when will this end..and why doesn't europe help us with burden sharing...let me enlighten you...europe wanted 20 million unskilled immigrants...it seems now it is very close to reaching that quota..so now I think in the near future we will start seeing some results..hopefully that is.
Marjolene Grimaud
Oct 8th 2009, 23:16
@ Cecil Herbert Jones
You do not need to post your comment on this issue. People will still judge you like they judge a book by the cover. Just don't reveal your plan cos they'll only make it their own and mess it all up! Please?!
Andrea Portelli
Oct 8th 2009, 23:15
Now that the other EU countries have decided to play Judas with Malta... we should adopt a Maroni principle.
No buts and if's. It's that simple
martha calleja
Oct 8th 2009, 22:47
what then? we warned you 2 years ago its a joke and you ignored us!!! MALTA will have a voice in europe! ........thats an other old joke simon......well what have you got to say about this new joke ???
John Simpson
Oct 8th 2009, 22:02
Simon do you remember the song by the Bee Gees?
I started a joke, which started the whole world (EU) crying.
But I didn`t see that the joke was on me.
E. Azzopardi
Oct 8th 2009, 21:01
Nothing new. We have known this since the beginning. But some tried to give the impression that it was going to work. It did not and we knew it all along.
Ronald Galea
Oct 8th 2009, 20:44
Simon Busutiil here gives a thumb up to Joseph Muscat and PL.
They always said that this volontary agreement is a joke.
Prosit PL. Nahseb you were on the right side of this.
Denis Catania
Oct 8th 2009, 19:02
This little help Malta is getting from the EU, is a big joke and the joke is on Malta.
louise vella
Oct 8th 2009, 17:21
Having won 100 000 votes or thereabouts at the MEP elections promising burden sharing, Dr Simon Busuttil finally discovered that burden sharing of the voluntary kind is a joke - that of the compulsory kind is probably worse because we might end up with more than we get rid of. Nobody likes a burden, especially other people's burden. The solution lies in avoiding or preventing the burden. The EU does not want those millions of asylum seekers (in reality economic migrants) that are coming from Africa. So it must keep them out in all possible ways, preferably by an unarmed coastguard which dissuades and pushes back the boats of smugglers of human beings.
Joseph Cauchi
Oct 8th 2009, 16:56
There is only one way to solve this problem of illegal immigration and that is by the organization of ferry crossings from Libya. This is done by employing the services of Gozo Channel.
If this method is employed then the Gozo Channel will be guaranteed a massive business of ferrying over one million illegals to our shores and it would be a bonanza if it charges these illegal immigrants something less than these presently pay to the human traffickers!
This is how we have to act in order to avoid all the hassle the Frontex and our Armed Forces have to go to on regular basis.
If this is done, then the next step is for the Gozo Channel to ferry all the Maltese citizens to Sicily and then we can all live happily ever after!
mario gellel
Oct 8th 2009, 16:44
@Simon.Busuttil.
Was it not your PN govt that agreed and signed the Lisbon treaty without considering or consulting the public in general and rejecting any opinion that was given by the PL oppsition??
You knew well that the Burden Sharing was going to fail from day one. But you stuck your thick heads in the sand and accepted it without reservations.
Now Malta is a doomed island, thanks to your PN party.
One day you will say shame on me and my political party for what I done to this once was lovely island of Malta.
Mario Attard
Oct 8th 2009, 15:50
Well, well well. So after all we at the protest against burden sharing were right. We were called racists by a bunch of people. Are they going to call Simon a racist too? I don't think so.
@ John Spiteri and Charles Sammut I agree with your views
Burden sharing will only encourage more illegal immigration. What happened to the UNHCR unit for the control of illegal migrants in Libya? Is it functioning or not?
Alexander Morana
Oct 8th 2009, 15:37
MEP Simon Busttil should resign if he has the decency and respect to the Maltese nation and all those who voted for him in EP elections last June.
He has failed lauding a futile policy which he himself and his masters who instigated it in the first place knew all along that Burden Sharing was a pie in the sky. Shame on you Simon and do this country a favour resign!
Chrissy Borg
Oct 8th 2009, 14:38
Can Busuttil make up his mind, please? How long ago was it that he was defending the right of the immigrants to the food surplus instead of the Maltese poor? Or is his aim really to make us a laughing stock!
Stephen Farrugia
Oct 8th 2009, 14:35
Does nobody resign in this country ?
Now we are stuck with 13,000 illegal immigrants. I think not !
Muscat. Pat
Oct 8th 2009, 14:27
If Gonzi cannot even persuade his mates JP, Arrigo and Borg, how is he going to convince our shrewd European friends to practice what they preach to us? Gonzi is like an over blown balloon, with plenty of bubbles and gas; more air in; fast gas out when the hype bursts!
Charles Zammit
Oct 8th 2009, 14:04
'No, I am not agreeing with Labour at all... Voluntary solidarity was just a first step and it was better than nothing.'
'Unlike Labour, I do not point my finger at the government, which has, and is, working remarkably hard to make solidarity work'.
I would never expect Dr. Busuttil to agree with labour views or indeed give credit to Labour for its stance on the matter. Having said that Dr. Busuttil is right in calling the agreement reached by Gonzipn government and the EU on the matter a joke. Its not the hard work that matters but the results achieved and here our government failed miserably.
Galea. L
Oct 8th 2009, 13:58
Simon smelt the coffee at last.
Better late than never.
Karl Spiteri
Oct 8th 2009, 13:40
Come election time all PL has to do is come with a foolproof solution ( may be like Moroni's )
and all us floaters will come over.
Get consultants to help you on this problem and forget the other issues.Twenty EU countries do not give a hoot about us- they do not even want to talk about our problem. So PL make sure to see how to send them back as the Italians do - unless Gonzi beats you to it ////.
UNHCR should increase its presence in Libya and sent Mr. Falzon and the Jesuit father -- but Malta is far better posting then Libya.
Do the goodies ever been to Six Way Aston in B'gham or Brixton in London and many other cities?
Charles Sammut
Oct 8th 2009, 13:20
Burden sharing, voluntary or compulsory will lead to the destruction of Malta and eventually Europe.
Those countries that are opposing this, amongst them the UK, can see beyond the tip of their noses. The UK has learnt from bitter experience that such policies attract increasing numbers of illegal immigrants. The fact that they already have grave social problems with immigrants is secondary in this case.
The other aspect is the fact that when some countries do take a few of our guests, they take genuine refugees. These make up a small percentage of the total influx. The rest, made mostly of economic migrants, is stuck in Malta with no way out.
Malta is now struggling for its survival and we must act in self-defence irrespective of what international conventions, treaties and laws dictate. Even moderate Christianity recognises the aspect of self-preservation. This is far removed from the fundamentalist brand of Christianity practised by certain politicians who should have stuck to administering Catholic groups.
R.Gauci
Oct 8th 2009, 11:44
Good Morning !! Voluntary solidarity is a joke !!
So why we didn't try to get some guarantees about the illegal immigration issue in the Lisbon Treaty or better what will be the New European Constitution Dr.Busuttil before accepting it in our Parlament!!
Ahh I forgot that at that time we had a Minister that was saying that there wasn't any crisis and didn't wanted neither to discuss it in Parlament!!
Now its late Dr.Busuttil we missed the bus which had took away a major part of this problem as I accept also that we do our part to solve it!
That would be a real case for three Guiness for the Irish for accepting the Treaty !!
H. Dempster
Oct 8th 2009, 11:17
There are only 1 solution to this problem. Discharge minister Mifsud Bonnici from his responsiblities and replace him with the italian minister Marrone, who definitly know how to take the bull by the horns.
D Attard
Oct 8th 2009, 11:07
@J Xerri
Yes, they did, but Busuttil keeps insisting that the PL was only pointing its finger at the Government when it did so. I call that being in denial, a feeling synonymous with the PN of late.
Michael Gatt
Oct 8th 2009, 10:52
About time as well to realise that we were taken for a ride. The Labour party wanted to fight for this and the Gonzi PN was against. But as they say better late than never
John Caruana
Oct 8th 2009, 10:43
"We are far from having any common position that could be taken even to informal talks with the EP" ... in the meantime the invasion continues.
Perhaps it is high time to take matters in our own hands as the Italian Government did - the par idejn sodi, it seems, belong to Berlusconi.
John Spiteri - General Secretary AN
Oct 8th 2009, 10:28
It didn't take a genius to realise it would turn out to be a joke. Azzjoni Nazzjonali said immediately that such an agreement would not be worth the paper it's written on. the minister signed it and staked his reputation on it, where is he now? Obligatory burden sharing wouldn't help one bit as it would obviously only serve to attract further waves of illegal immigrants to Europe. The only real solution is repatriation. But it's no longer in our hands, our politicians sold our right to self government for 30 pieces of silver. With the Lisbon Treaty, Immigration and Asylum will become the sole prerogative of Brussels This is a fact, and all the posturing isn't going to change it. Our government no longer resides with our parliament but in the unaccountable institutions of the EU. our parliament will simply be reduced to an electoral college which will choose the person it wishes to send to Brussels, not as our representative but as one of the 27 who will take part in the supreme government of Europe that determines the policies of the EU for individual vassal states to implement.. Wake up!
j Xerri
Oct 8th 2009, 10:07
Hasn't somebody said that "voluntary solidarity on illegal immigration would not work" before?
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 8th 2009, 10:00
bla bla bla Malta were always servants to europe and when there was hardships they start whining and sobbing... be men and ACT NOW...stop it with this stupid idea of burden sharing...nobody wants to share....get the bull by its horns...stop the illegal immigration now..declare a STATE of EMERGENCY...the goverment with all its lawyers and attorney generals and ministers cannot come up with a solution? Not a temporary one like burden sharing. A permenant solution ..close the borders...just like when a bus is full up and taking in more people will result in unsafe conditions so should be the argument with immigraiton in Malta..We are full Up and the people are also fed Up with the situation...did we join the European Union of the African Union..now I'm starting to wonder..if you see news you will read about christians being massacred in Africa...Robert Mugabe taking all the lands from the white with new reforms. Stop them now before the people rebel against the goverment..the first act of rebellion will happen in the upcoming election when you will loose your seat DR GONZI since you do not have any backbone to say enough is enough and act in the interest of the maltese.