EU to hold summit on immigration
The European Union is to hold a meeting of government leaders in June specifically to discuss illegal immigration, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy announced in Malta today.
He made his comment after a meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi during which the migration issue was discussed.
Dr Gonzi said the planned meeting was a first and it may even become an annual event, reflecting the way how Malta had put immigration on the EU agenda.
Mr Van Rompuy said migration was a concern not just for Malta but for the whole EU. Malta's special situation, with a disproportionate number of migrants, had been highlighted in his talks with Dr Gonzi, the president said.
The EU president is in Malta on a whirlwind visit.
He arrived in Malta late in the morning and was welcomed to Castille by Dr Gonzi.
In a press conference after the meeting, Mr Van Rompuy said the EU was facing two big crises, the economy and climate change, which would be discussed during an informal summit next month.
The EU president flew in from Athens and will head for Berlin this evening for talks during a working dinner with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The visit to Malta is part of the tour of EU capitals by the President.
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sean grima
Jan 13th 2010, 21:41
unfortunately most of the commentators equate illegal immigration with african (i.e. black) people. there are lots of illegal immigrants in malta who originate from east europe esp ex yugoslavia, but they attract little attention! the presence of african immigrants is greatly exaggerated, and these people who come from such a troubled continent find no compassion from such racists! we should be extending a helping hand to them and helping them integrate into our society, and at the same time learning about african culture.
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 13th 2010, 19:06
Immigration !!
Well, today, nations like India and China are called "Emerging Economies", I just wonder why Africa is not refered to as an Emerging Economy ?? Isn't it rich of minerals, elements, oil ,produce and so on !! Is this too "Logical and Obvious", dear well dressed, dignitaries of the EU !! Maybe its not rich in Military Might, right. !!!
Indeed, Immigration. So please do discuss and do discuss, you really need to, I tell you. I really beg you, I am on my knees !!!!
Charles Sammut
Jan 13th 2010, 18:52
Who does Mr Van Rompuy represent? Certainly not me.
Like most of the rest of the EU appointments, it is solely dependent on being willing to toe the line unquestioningly and unconditionally. Why not use a robot?
colin stanley
Jan 13th 2010, 18:04
Dear prime minister, please try and solve this problem because if you don't, in future you will be remembered as the goverment that changed the face of the Maltese nation from White to !!!!!!!!!!.
Franco Xuereb
Jan 13th 2010, 17:14
Fellow citizens of Malta, put your minds at rest as Mr. Van Rompuy will solve the problem of the influx of illegal immigration in Malta. It seems that he does not even know what he's saying or perhaps he's incompetent as he even needed papers to say few words which were nothing new to us, what a waste of time repeating the same words over and over again.
In June he said a specifically meeting will be held to discuss the illegal immigration, why in June and not now to come up with the one and only solution that is to send them all back, was he informed by GonziPN that by June the influx would be in it's full invasion........so more talks and talks but at the end of it no action would have been taken that is unless Berlusconi will continue what he had started last year, if so Malta should nee and show gratitude to Mr. Berlusconi.
Unless this GonziPN decides to take action in the interest of this country and starts to repatriate all of them back to their original homeland, and thus let's keep our country in the hands of the MALTESE.
d. borg
Jan 13th 2010, 17:09
Another summit of useless discussing. It is partly the fault of the EU that we are in this mess. It should have tackled the issue in the beginning when the first illegal immigrants started arriving in Europe. It should have deported them all at that time not allowed the situation to get out of hand. The EU was more concerned about giving them rights and integration without considering the great burden it placed on its members especially Malta.
C.ZARB
Jan 13th 2010, 16:41
It may be a concern of the entire Europe but the burden is mostly carried by the countries living at the EU frontiers.
Anyway we do need more bla bla bla at the moment.
Sander Depasquale
Jan 13th 2010, 16:01
I recall times when the government used to boast how many immigrants we are hosting and how kind we are as maltese....and our government had created a problem for ourselves.... and now the prime minister is complaining!
Today we are boasting that we are contributing money to other countries to help them counter the effects of climate change plus we are committing ourselves to exagerated commitments that although good in priciple are hard to achieve....and we are saying that we made a good deal!!!!
Soon we will be hearing our politicians complain... like we are doing with immigration.... because of committments that we have made as regards to climate change....
sandro pace
Jan 13th 2010, 15:58
More useless summits. What number is this? Putting migration on EU agenda is no longer a feat. We've been hearing that for 4 years and besides, everyone could have done that.
Maltese government should start to show some teeth, and as a starters, refuse to accept back migrants which have succeeded to somehow making it to their final destination. EU laws cannot force Malta to become an immigrant prison, or hold Africans here against their will. It would do no social good.
Gonzi is putting EU legality before the political interest of the islands.
M. Galea
Jan 13th 2010, 15:54
Yawn
Please wake me up when proper action is taken, action that is not some exercise in political correctness.
Illegal immigrants, are illegal and therefore should be deported. They are a huge burden to our little island.
louise vella
Jan 13th 2010, 14:49
“The European Union is to hold a meeting of government leaders in June specifically to discuss illegal immigration, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy announced in Malta today.”
Discussing is good. Doing something about it is better. We who voted for the EU don’t want the EU to discuss illegal immigration. We want the EU to stop it.
“He made his comment after a meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi during which the migration issue was discussed.”
Discussions again!
“Dr Gonzi said … Malta had put immigration on the EU agenda.”
Parole, parole are not enough. We want the EU to abolish illegal immigration from Malta because illegal immigrants are attracted by the EU.
“Mr Van Rompuy said migration was a concern not just for Malta but for the whole EU.”
Then the EU should stop immigration of the illegal kind.
“Malta's special situation …had been highlighted in his talks with Dr Gonz”.
Talks, discussions, agenda!!!
Charles Sammut
Jan 13th 2010, 14:39
"Mr Van Rompuy said the EU was facing two big crises, the economy and climate change,"
Jetting needlessly all over Europe just to talk to government leaders will help neither the economy nor climate change. Aren't video conferencing and telephones enough, or does Mr Van Rompuy insist on hugging and kissing each and every EU leader? What utter hypocrisy, paid for by our taxes.
Stephen Farrugia Sliema
Jan 13th 2010, 13:52
I am impressed with what he said. Nothing as usual. He even needed papers to say nothing. What a waste of time, really.
Appealing to the prime minister is useless. We are in a fix and a good one. :(
Somebody call Maroni please.....
lgalea
Jan 13th 2010, 13:49
We want action to get all illegal immigrants out of Malta not summits.
Joseph Grech
Jan 13th 2010, 13:47
It is certainly news to know that according to Mr Van Rompuy ''migration was a concern not just for Malta but for the whole EU (and that) Malta's special situation, with a disproportionate number of migrants had been highlighted in his talks with Dr Gonzi.''
So far so good. But when will both the EU and Malta begin giving factual proof that they are putting EU and Maltese interests first and foremost in the tackling of this serious problem? To date both the EU and our irresponsible government have acted quite incompetently and too softly in this issue. They take half-baked measures which put the interests of the illegals first while neglecting to act in the the EU's and Malta's true interests. Siting the EU immigration office here is the last in a long list of stupid measures introduced to address the problem of illegal immigration.
Mr Van Rompuy 's declaration remains quite unconvincing. We Maltese judge the EU and our administration by their deeds not by their declarations. Hopefully this Comment will be read by the European Council President and prod him into action before the EU is well and truly ruined by the problem he himself highlights.
J Farrugia
Jan 13th 2010, 13:46
The EU does not need any more summits. Just talk to Libyan Leader Gadaffi to enforce his own laws in his own land and the problem will be solved. Without any summits or conferences. Just by plain simple talking or is this new president afraid or unable to talk to Col Gadaffi..