France reaffirms commitment to help Malta with relocation of refugees
French Immigration Minister Eric Besson has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to help Malta with the relocation of refugees granted international protection in Malta.
Mr Besson told Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici during a meeting in Paris that he would intervene in favour of Malta whenever he met his other European counterparts, saying that the relocation of refugees from Malta would increase the efficiency of the Dublin agreements that stipulate that the country that was the first port of entry was competent for treating the case of asylum seekers.
France is the only EU country so far that has relocated people who have been granted refugee status in Malta. It took 94 migrants last July under the European Commission’s Pilot Project for Malta.
Mr Besson added that France, which according to statistics revealed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees received the highest number of asylum applications in the world, would promote the idea of European solidarity in favour of Malta.
Both Mr Besson and Dr Mifsud Bonnici reiterated their support for a strong and united European policy in the field of immigration and asylum.
They also called upon the EU to take urgent steps to reinforce the fight against illegal immigration and towards uniform asylum policies with a view toward the upcoming meeting of EU Heads of State on October 29 and 30.
At a time when immigrant smuggling rings were exerting great pressure on the external borders of the EU, especially in the Mediterranean, the two ministers agreed upon the importance of FRONTEX to supervise and control these borders.
They decided to combine their efforts in order to reinforce the action of FRONTEX especially by promoting maritime engagement rules oriented towards interception of boats and the return of such boats, in compliance with international laws and engagements related to asylum.
Mr Besson and Dr Mifsud Bonnici also underlined the urgency to build an asylum-friendly Europe, in compliance with the respect of the rights of persecuted people and in conformity with EU’s international obligations and values. Finally, they both agreed that an asylum-friendly Europe would also fight against the misuse of asylum procedures by people-smuggling rings.
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lgalea
Oct 15th 2009, 07:40
Just get them all out of here Gonzi.
That is what the vast majority of the people want.
They want NO ILLEGAL immigrats in Malta.
Paul Barrett
Oct 14th 2009, 22:24
All those granted asylum should be given every assistance to survive until their Country of origin problem has been resolved and they can safely return home.
Those not qualifying for asylum should understand that they are not particularly welcome and are required to return to their Country of origin. To get this point across and spread the message to those that have not yet risked the journey, all those that have made it should be retained in a closed centre until their return journey is organised. To do anything other than this sends totally the wrong message and just encourages others to try their luck.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Oct 14th 2009, 22:10
@ steve agius,
"Either they are stupid or they are puppets of some global agenda. "
Since these are highly educated intelligent, people pre selected for the task, they definitely are puppets for a global agenda plain and simple.
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 14th 2009, 21:27
why don't they investigate who is providing them with the satellite phone?
Alexander Morana
Oct 14th 2009, 20:49
Instead of Measures to solve the problem Once and for All. They keep proposing measures to encourage african immigration into europe ? what is wrong with them ?
In plain words France and Malta want the Africans to continue their migration to Europe because that’s what Malta signed for in May 2004 whether we like it or not. No immigrants, no EU and No EU, EFA would not have seen one stinking Euro.
Raymond Sammut
Oct 14th 2009, 20:43
High level discussion on this issue will never produce a solution. This is a proven fact. The Italians, for example, have demonstrated this very clearly. High level discussion, in fact, only helps a moribund government to procrastinate and allow the situation to worsen. The hard cold fact is that Malta has been faced with an unprecedented situation that has now become ongoing. The same government that has been conducive to this situation will never be able to reverse it. The ugliest part of it is that Gonzi knows this well, yet he remains poker faced, mum and transfixed.
steve agius
Oct 14th 2009, 19:02
This is completely insane. There is something seriously wrong with what these so called "ministers" are Continuing to Propose over and over again. Mela they cannot see that it doesn't work and immigrants kept coming all these years ? Either they are stupid or they are puppets of some global agenda.
Instead of Measures to solve the problem Once and for All. They keep proposing measures to encourage african immigration into europe ? what is wrong with them ?
J.Spiteri
Oct 14th 2009, 19:01
Words, words and more words! Frontex is a complete failure, solidarity and co-operation from our European allies is non existent, and the influx of illegal immigrants keeps on unabated. To rely on others for help in this problem is just a dream. WE have to take action NOW. And what about those immigrants who are NOT granted international protection? Will they be allowed to make Malta their new home?
Muscat. Pat
Oct 14th 2009, 17:32
Whenever a boatload of illegal immigrants invade us, EU countries offer commitment; thereafter, this heartfelt commitment fizzles out into empty bubbles.
louise vella
Oct 14th 2009, 17:23
"They decided to combine their efforts in order to reinforce the action of FRONTEX especially by promoting maritime engagement rules oriented towards interception of boats and the return of such boats".
This is the only piece of good news, but it's still only a promise, a hope. When FRONTEX is stronger and starts intercepting boats and returning them to sender, then FRONTEX will become effective. So far FRONTEX has been a ferry service bringing boatloads of illegal immigrants from Libya to Malta.
As for the illegal immigrants that France has taken from Malta, thank you, Sir. But more illegal immigrants came in one boat last week (106 of them) than France took in one year.