Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Malta objects to new Frontex rules
Future participation in European Union illegal migration missions doubtful
Should Malta host the next Frontex mission, migrants picked up from Libyan waters could be automatically brought here under draft EU guidelines the government is forcefully objecting to.
The guidelines say that if it is not possible to return migrants picked up by Frontex vessels to the country they left from, they must be sent to the country hosting the Frontex mission.
But Malta and Italy are objecting strongly and have already expressed reluctance to host or even take part in any missions under this code.
According to the European Council's draft guidelines, which will now be discussed by the European Parliament, Frontex missions will first try to return migrants to the country from where the boat carrying them would have left. Where this is not possible, the migrants should be taken to the country hosting the mission, rather than the nearest port of call, as stipulated by international maritime laws.
The guidelines do make an exception. In the event of people being ill on board the rescued vessel, when there are pregnant women on board or if the boat is deemed to be unseaworthy, the migrants may be taken to the nearest port of call.
However, Malta is insisting that this is not enough.
It had always contended that migrants rescued on the high-seas should be taken to the closest port. The new guidelines changed this scenario, implying that if Malta decided to host a Frontex mission, as it had done in the past two years, it would have to take all the immigrants rescued, even if they were picked up outside its search and rescue region and closer to others', sources close to the Council said.
Contacted by The Times, a government spokesman confirmed that Malta had submitted a declaration on its legal position.
A compromise could be brokered because the text allows for member states taking part in the Frontex operations to change the provisions of the guidelines through agreement.
"Our participation in any Frontex mission will therefore be subject to satisfactory negotiations on the operational plan with the other participating members," the spokesman said.
"We will still continue to follow our international obligations to the letter as we've always done but we will not accept changes to these international obligations," the spokesman said.
Frontex's anti-migration patrol missions off the coasts of Malta have been held for the past four years. However, due to the lack of clarity on the rules of engagement, many member states were reluctant to participate.
Over the past two years, Malta hosted the mission and had almost performed the mission's duties single-handedly albeit at the cost of the EU. During last year's Nautilus IV mission, only Germany and Luxembourg participated with substantial assets while Italy declined to join.
A few weeks ago, Frontex said it was planning to start a new mission, called Chronos, off the coasts of Malta in April. However, following the recent developments it seems this operation could now be under threat. About 820 migrants were picked up during the Frontex operation that took place south of Malta in 2009; just over 700 of them were brought to Malta.
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sean grima
Feb 11th 2010, 14:38
if you are so sure they will be leaving, i do not see why you are so worried they are here. what nobody buys is the stereotyped image of africans you want to present. if you do not like seeing black people, keep your eyes closed.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Feb 11th 2010, 02:10
@sean grima,
No one is buying your tales of woe for these sub saharans sean, they are opportunists of the first degree and when the time comes they will be glad to leave our homeland Malta, we will see to it ,they are nothing but unwanted guests period.
sean grima
Feb 8th 2010, 14:48
i do not need to order anyone about. it is the law which states that these people cannot be forcibly repatriated. your sweeping statements in respect of African culture are based on pure racism. further comments would be superflous.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Feb 7th 2010, 16:49
@sean grima,
You seem keen in ordering everyone to accept this illegal invasion just because you have some african friends sean. For every half white Obama raised in a well to do white family I can show you 500 social cases of blacks that cause mayhem to themselves and others regardless of race.
There is more to it than looking different or a different skin colour, culture is more than that.
Just look around to see the results and fruit of your favorite people any where they settle.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating sean you can never change that no matter how many african friends you claim to have.
sean grima
Feb 4th 2010, 08:45
i do not happen to take any orders from you. my experience of african cultures is diametrically opposed to yours - i have african friends with whom I get along very well, in spite of the fact that we come from different back grounds, simply because we look at the differences with respect and not with a superiority complex. thousands of people from Africa have successfully integrated into Western culture, without reneging on their cultural background: Obama is the foremost example.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Feb 3rd 2010, 16:12
@sean grima,
Well with all your talk of great love of the africans and their culture , you surely would want to be right part of it to get the full flavour and dose. Don't deny your self Sean, back up your words with action! You sound like an immature idealist who has never ventured out in the scary real world, all words and no action. Unlike you Sean , I worked decades in social services in North America and know the afro culture real well, more than you can imagine and knowing what I know, I would keep hundreds of miles away from it as it is not compatible with european/western culture at all.
Unlike you who naively thinks it would be cool to give his homeland on a sliver platter to these people , so to appear politically correct at no matter the cost.It is you who should go to africa and share their paradise. Maltese people pay taxes to a government that should be repatriating these people to their homeland or place of departure,& not allow anymore in to exacerbate the problem, maybe you should row them back to africa and stay there .
sean grima
Feb 2nd 2010, 22:51
Most are not economic migrants, and it is no crime to go abroad in search of a better life. i do not want to go to detroit or anywhere else for that matter, maybe you should consider rowing the immigrants back to africa to share their paradise!
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Feb 2nd 2010, 21:01
@sean grima,
They are economic illegal migrants and you know it, they all worked in Libya and were well treated there, we do not believe the JRS concocted tall tales of woe.
I can get you a house in Detroit Michigan for next to nothing.
You will love the ambiance and the wholesome neighbours !
sean grima
Feb 2nd 2010, 18:10
@TL Mizzi: you fail to point out that the same report states that nother 5,677 were granted subsidiary and 17 temporary humanitarian protection, thus not making them economic migrants. i do not move to lagos because these people are leaving the place! otherwise, i can assure you that some of the nicest people i have to know are african!
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Feb 2nd 2010, 14:46
@sean grima,
The majority are economic illegal migrants and nothing more.
As reported in the Times of Jan 19th, 232 out of 10629 illegals were accepted as genuine refugees in 7 years !, See for yourself: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100119/local/few-migrants-accepted-as-refugees
122 sq. mile overcrowded Malta is not the place for immigrants of any kind.
Any honest government of any stripe can see that illegal migrants cannot keep coming here at infinitum. If you like to be surrounded by africans and their culture sean, why not move to Lagos Nigeria or Detroit Michigan?
sean grima
Feb 2nd 2010, 10:35
most of the migrants here have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection, therefore, it is untrue that they are 'economic migrants'. even if they were, moving abroad to achieve a higher standard of living is no crime!!
yes, perhaps we are all so dull that we should appoint some right-wing extremist to lead us!
D.Pulis
Feb 2nd 2010, 08:45
Malta, Europe's own Alcatraz !
Stephen Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2010, 08:16
This government is not at all sharp. What does it take for them to understand something so basic. Everyone is puzzled with this gross ignorance of politics. Today the government must announce a change of policy, otherwise it would be better to pack up and leave the job, for someone more competent.
Right-wing
C.ZARB
Feb 2nd 2010, 07:39
Poor Simon, he had dedicated so much work in making Frontex look like the best thing since slice bread to then end up looking like an............What's next Simon? Should we give a tender to Gozo channel to make it compete with Frontex Ferry service? All paid by our altruistic EU brothers of course.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Feb 1st 2010, 23:04
Take them all back , by airplane or ship, what ever the cost.
These are all 98% economic illegal migrants who are pawns of the Loyola society's plans of social engineering in european lands, all part of the continuing counter reformation agenda.
The maltese taxpayer has been taken for a ride for far too long.
Joanne Micallef
Feb 1st 2010, 11:46
For very obvious reasons Italy wants to limit it’s arrivals to only those who manage to make it there on their own. I hope that the government will not give in and if it comes to it PULL OUT OF FRONTEX.
By proposing this we have yet another confirmation how no country is really interested in the faith of this tiny island, as no one who has any common sense would propose to burden further this already over populated rock .