PM discusses illegal immigration in Helsinki

Michael Galea

Dec 2nd 2009, 10:45

from 1st December the Lisbon treaty came into effect..
Let's all welcome the new regime that is called the EU.
No vetos on immigration...
Enjhoy yr Xmas guys... in a few years time we will be celebrating Ramadan, Igmla u twapet

arne albertsson

Dec 2nd 2009, 08:19

This article of the Malta Pm in Helsinki just shows how far all politicans are from the real life situation of their citizens.While working hard to lobby and win the EU over for the placing of the Asylum Support Office in Malta the real issue is still sidelined.What the Maltese need is action.Repartriation forced or otherwise. Turing a blind eye to a very very serious situation is doing the Maltese people no good. This is not racism.It´s just plain logic. The size and population density of Malta says it all. This is not space technology or brain surgery just plain common sense which is obviously very much needed at present.

Charles Sammut

Dec 1st 2009, 23:25

@ g ellul

We never had veto powers. Everybody and his dog knew that GonziPN would never dare. It's like paying a hefty licence to keep a shotgun but refusing to use it in self-defence in your own home.

Pay and nod - and pose.

Ivan Attard

Dec 1st 2009, 22:44

'Dr Gonzi said that yesterday's EU decision to set up its Asylum Support Office in Malta was further evidence that Malta was managing to get across its message on immigration.'

CAN SOMEONE TELL THE MAN THAT 'DISCUSSION' IS A WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES?
CAN THIS OSTRICH OF A PM GET IT IN HIS HEAD THAT WHAT IS NEEDED URGENTLY IS:
R-E-P-A-T-R-A-T-I-O-N

........AND FORCED!!!!!

Joseph Calleja

Dec 1st 2009, 22:20

My solution to illegal immigration. Repatriate every illegal immigrant in Malta who wants to leave Malta. Provide them with a free seat on Air Malta to the destination of their choice within Europe, Air Malta routes only. This way they can travel legally. SEND BACK ANY NEW ARRIVALS to where they came from, no exceptions. This might solve the whole illegal immigration saga. Burden sharing is not going to work, but Malta can burden share with the rest of Europe. Begging for help from the rest of the EU states is not going to work, It has been tried and failed. The bleeding hearts should campaign for such an accomplishment, now that's what I call, helping your fellow man.

g ellul

Dec 1st 2009, 20:47

I hear we've now lost the veto on immigration matters, amongst other things. If true, is that convenient for Malta?

sandro pace

Dec 1st 2009, 20:33

The government is treating the immigration problem in a very naive and detached way, and most probably going against the national interest. By insisting to bring every agency related to immigration/asylum in Malta, it is at best making it more difficult to itself to any 'underground' ways to let migrants into mainland Europe (EASO) and at worst, making Malta a direct target to more immigration. (Frontex).

We did not need any asylum agency in Malta. By this action, the government politically recognised that the huge immigration's problem is Malta's problem. When it is the problem of their intended final destination. As also reported in other sections of the local media, Frontex has urged Malta not to advertise relocations, specifically to the USA. For this is also making Malta a direct target.

Couple these with the government's naive misjudgement of Europe and Malta 's public opinion on immigration, and it may take him long to realise that there will never be any EU legal ways to even alleviate Malta's problem. By its actions the present government managed to make Malta OWN the migration problem, and making it a direct target. When actions should have been defiance of Dublin II mechanisms.

J.Spiteri

Dec 1st 2009, 19:50

Mr.Vanhanen said that his country NOW ( ! ) had greater awareness of Malta's immigration issue. Most European leaders probably do not know about Malta's immigration burden or, most likely, turn a blind eye to the problems facing this tiny island in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Charles Sammut

Dec 1st 2009, 19:50

The solution does not lay in burden sharing, in lays in repatriation.

Dr Gonzi's policy of some EU country taking a dozen illegals from Malta, jekk il-Bambin irid, will only encourage more to come here. And we all know that only a small percentage of arrivals are resettled or get repatriated. This attitude is bringing about the ruination of the country.