Malta to host EU's asylum HQ

A. Grech

Dec 2nd 2009, 10:26

Charles Sammut: the guide is just an explanation of existing laws, since decisions are taken by the commissioner of refugees, i doubt that any other organisation may influence their decision. There may be loopholes but every law has one. As for the law being an ass, maybe it's not perfect but i doubt anyone would risk breaking the law because there is a good chance they will be caught.

Raymond Sammut: In my quote i was not saying that Malta will see first hand the situation but the Agency. As for your comments about the agency, do you have the laws which will regulate it? you seem sure of how it will work.

in my opinion based on some agency experience, the EASO will probably bring together all EU member states, possibly their Commissioners of Refugees and probably the UN too, to streamline procedures throughout all of the EU and adjacent countries. This will give the European Commission a picture of the situation but most important is the creation of regulations. It may not necessarily be a registration office since this role is reserved to the Commissioner of Refugees. i may be mistaken, but i am willing to try.

C.ZARB

Dec 2nd 2009, 09:08

I am sure that this will be an important win at the same level Frontex and Voluntary Burden sharing was.

Raymond Sammut

Dec 1st 2009, 16:37

A. Grech -- "I am happy that Malta was given this opportunity, remember that the Agency when set up in Malta, will see first hand what the situation is." How is Malta going to "see first hand what the situation is"? Are you suggesting that Malta still doesn't know what the situation is? Are countries like Spain, Italy and Greece going to wait until Malta finds out what the situation is before they too will know what the situation is?

What we have to remember is that EASO will not enable Malta to place any other country under any obligation. Any other country in the EU can still go right ahead and do their own thing with illegal aliens on their soil. They will not have to wait for anything that comes out of EASO in Malta. EASO, therefore, will be more of a liability to Malta than anything else. This will be the biggest sterile building one can ever possibly imagine sitting there just taking space; incongruous with its Marsa surroundings -- most likely with 100's of illegal aliens squatting in its vicinity on an ongoing basis.

Charles Sammut

Dec 1st 2009, 16:22

@ A Grech
"I do understand the dangers posed by admitting foreigners without proper screening but in the end we all fall under the same laws, so let the law deal with the unlawful."

But don't we all know that the law is an ass, especially when dealing with illegal immigrants?

More so when we have organisations benefiting from EU funds (our taxes) who encourage illegal immigrants to apply for refugee status and if not accepted to appeal. They indirectly spell it out to these people what they should or should not say. See page 5 of the JRS "Guide to asylum procedures for immigrants in detention"

http://www.jrsmalta.org/Guide_Book_EN.pdf

This is a step by step guide on how to wiggle through the system. It even has a sample "Letter of Appeal" in case the request is thrown out. It explains for example that minors, the elderly, pregnant women and the seriously ill are considered "vulnerable immigrants" and will be released from detention. It explains that in any case the maximum term is 18 months.

What this new EU agency will be doing is opening more loopholes in the system.

A. Grech

Dec 1st 2009, 14:25

Although i believe that a country can only take so many immigrants, and i do think that Malta may have only little to offer for the many coming, i do agree with the views of Ms. Richards. This is not the opinion of a religious fanatic or a political diehard, I do understand the dangers posed by admitting foreigners without proper screening but in the end we all fall under the same laws, so let the law deal with the unlawful. Some see the easiest solution being to get rid of all immigrants, but a more civilised way would be to work a system out, hence the EASO. I am happy that Malta was given this opportunity, remember that the Agency when set up in Malta, will see first hand what the situation is. If most of the bloggers' complaints are real then it serves us well to have the Agency here. I believe this is a step forward in tackling the problem. And remember this, immigrants do not only come from Africa, and the Agency will not deal only with that issue. To conclude i believe that when a smile is offered it is normally returned.

Deo Catania

Dec 1st 2009, 14:12

First we read "The island managed to fight off competition from Cyprus and Bulgaria" .......and later "Cyprus and Bulgaria decided to withdraw their application when they realised that 22 of 27 member states backed Malta's bid." Ahna qeghdin sew diga u issa veru sirna headquarters ta' l-immigranti ilegali. "This is a very important win for Malta and a concrete recognition of our efforts in the past months," Important win? We win when there's no single illegal immigrant in OUR country. Pajjiz tal-boloh.

Joanne Micallef

Dec 1st 2009, 12:49

I honestly don’t know what to make out of this news. Considering our Government’s spineless and in certain cases sheer incompetence in tackling this very critical issue, I find it hard to believe that winning the bid to host the asylum agency in Malta will benefit this Nation.
As a very concerned Maltese I sincerely hope to be proven wrong on this one.

Raymond Sammut

Dec 1st 2009, 12:39

"Hosting EU agencies is always sought after by member states, particularly as they add prestige while generating income for the economy." Clearly not in this case, since only Cyprus and Bulgaria showed some interest (for whatever reason), and while these two were quietly pulling out, Dr Mifsud Bonnici was still intensively "lobbying".

This will always be an EU building, not a Malta Government building -- just like another embassy on valuable tax-payers' land. The so-called 100 "officials" could end up being anybody -- EU overpaid employees (not necessarily Maltese) enjoying privileges on Malta. The building will do absolutely nothing. It will quickly degenerate into another piece of EU bureaucracy telling Dr Mifsud Bonnici what he must do to meet EU requirements. At the same time, the big countries that really count, namely, Spain, Italy, and Greece will keep doing their own thing in dealing with the illegal aliens because this agency will put them under no obligation whatsoever. That's why they didn't want it in the first place.

mario gellel

Dec 1st 2009, 12:30

NOW WE REALY HAVE HIT THE BULLS EYE.
AND THIS GOVT PRESENTS HIMSELF OF FIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS???

Charles Sammut

Dec 1st 2009, 12:20

@ Margaret Richards

Do you know that Frontex has advised the Maltese Government not to publicise the re-settlement of illegal immigrants in other countries because it is encouraging more illegal immigration?

When this was stated by certain people years ago, they were branded "racists". There is only one place to re-settle them, and that is back on their continent, now free of imperialist colonisers and run by black Africans on the basis of Black empowerment quotas.

John Gauci

Dec 1st 2009, 12:19

Hmmm ... now the government's spineless attitude visavis the illegal immigrants is becoming more clear.

It is nothing new really. We ruin our country to get very well-paid jobs for a few of the boys.

There are, however, no surprises here as this has become the hallmark of the Gonzi Government. Gonzi PN = Kleptocracy PN

lgalea

Dec 1st 2009, 12:03

Margaret Richards
We do NOT care whether they are being accepted by other countries. We do NOT want to accept them and shall not rest until ALL illegal immigrants are EXPELLED. This is OUR country NOT theirs. We are the only rightful and legal residents and no other from any country.

Ask yourself Margaret why did the vast majority of member countries not apply for it and the other two contenders dropped out?
Are you so blind that you cannot see the negative effects it is going to have on us, our country and our children?

Tony Zammit

Dec 1st 2009, 12:00

@Margaret Richards Would they do the same for us if we went to Africa illegally??? would they give us our rights???

T.gauci

Dec 1st 2009, 11:53

@Margaret Richards

what rights ? my right is that to keep my identity and if i am racist for being proud of who i am then let it be. who many immigrants did Europe take ?

Margaret Richards

Dec 1st 2009, 11:41

The lack of objectivity of certain bloggers amaze me. Do you know that immigrants are being accepted by various countries in Europe and also by USA??? Also blabbing about 'what if's' and sticking to what an african was 'bragging' about, shows lack of intelligence at its best. Let's give credit to Malta for winning this lobby, and then one can comment, once the asylum office starts its work. Your lack of objectivity and your one way trend of thought made you forget that an asylum seeker has the right to submit his/her case, and also a right to appeal. There are certain rights which thank God still exist !! But obviously racism is blinding people to the fact that there are Laws and Conventions which should be adhered to!!!

John Azzopardi

Dec 1st 2009, 11:18

No has imagined what Malta is in for for hosting the EU Asylum Agency. Mark my word, Malta will be flooded with illegal immigrants and we will be left to fend on our own. This is not really an honor, but a shame as to what will happen to our island state. EU was probably happy to give Malta a little bit of breadcrumbs to keep our politicians happy. I will debate anyone as to what honor this agency will bring t oour country. What would have been an honor is if we had hosted the EU Sattelite Agency.

Charles Sammut

Dec 1st 2009, 11:14

Dr Mifsud Bonnici, you know well enough that the first thing all illegal immigrants do on setting foot on Malta is follow the advice of NGOs such as the Jesuit Refugee Service, and apply for asylum. They are well versed on what to say to obtain some form of status to enable them to remain here. The presence of many thousands of these people proves this.

I was on a building site where an African was working, he was very loquacious and was bragging to all and sundry that he cannot be sent back to his country because he had converted to Christianity and he would be killed if he went back. Religious prostitution at its lowest.

Chris Borg

Dec 1st 2009, 10:43

"All migration issues, including illegal migration, will be coordinated from Malta and would-be immigrants would know they will be immedietly returned if they try to enter the EU illegally."

How would they know? They have never been immediately returned.