Italy says Libya's cooperation on migrants at risk
Italy said today that Libya may renege on a deal to control the flow of illegal immigrants because of a visa spat with Switzerland that has escalated into a Europe-wide row.
The deal has also seen a dramatic fall in the number of migrants reaching Malta.
Tripoli has stopped issuing visas to citizens of the Schengen passport-free zone that includes most of the European Union as well as Switzerland, in retaliation for a decision by Berne to bar entry to some Libyans including the country's leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi today also called for a jihad (holy war) against Switzerland.
Italy, which has close business links with Libya, has accused Switzerland of misusing the Schengen agreement and taking its members "hostage" by slapping the ban, which had forced other states to bar travel by Libyans as well.
Malta has also criticised the Swiss decision.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union interior ministers, Italy's Roberto Maroni said the row put the Schengen zone at risk and could further strain relations with Libya.
Cooperation by Tripoli in controlling immigration to the EU was one issue, he said.
"The fear is in part that ... Libya could weaken its border controls concerning illegal immigration," he told reporters.
The EU has offered Libya 20 million euros ($26.95 million) to help it cope with the flow of illegal migrants who often use the country as a departure point for southern Europe, particularly Italy.
Rome has also signed a cooperation agreement with its former North African colony last year to curb migration across the Mediterranean by setting up joint patrols.
Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf attended a meeting with EU ministers to discuss possible solutions to the travel row.
She reiterated Swiss denials that Berne had misused Schengen deals but declined to offer any details on the talks.
MALTA'S APPEAL
Malta Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, who was also present for the meeting, said the issue needed to be resolved as quickly as possible.
"Delays in settling this issue are further complicating matters and adding to the negative impact on neighbouring countries and the EU. This is also worrying in view of the rapid progress made last year in the level of collaboration between the EU and Libya."
Dr Mifsud Bonnici expressed concern over wrong application of Schengen rules and said this was sending the wrong message to those countries who were being careful to apply the agreement in word and spirit. The Swiss decision could also constitute a dangerous precedent which would further complicate matters.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said Malta remained ready to give a helping hand for a solution to the issue.
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Martin Cassar
Feb 26th 2010, 16:19
Solidarity with Switzerland? My foot.
The EU is all about MONEY. Period.
The EU's slogan of unity towards Switzerland will evaporate the minute an important t business relations are put at risk..
Could the EU impose sanction on Libya and interrupt the Libyan oil industry? Under the current ‘financial earthquakes’ mainly caused by Ex USA administration useless wars sanctions unlikely to take place as there are long queues of none European companies waiting to replace!
Mr. Gadaffi knows that his oil pipes are long enough to divide the EU. Mr. Berlusconi's is retaliating from his Alpine neighbor too over a row connected with bank secrecy. What about the troubled Greece and its secret debits with Wall Street? Mr. Gaddafi reads all this quite well indeed.
Switzerland knows whom they're dealing with, so if you play hard, be prepared for it. Swiss just wants more business; they don't care for human rights. So Switzerland black list some Libyans VIP’s including Gaddafi meantime let North Korea's leader’s families to stay in Switzerland to study and live. This is called hypocrisy and goes to prove that human rights are another useless EU slogan.
Paul Caruana
Feb 26th 2010, 10:52
The Swiss position is outrageous on this issue, while the Libyans are behaving like....well....Libyans, with the Med countries caught in the middle!
No doubt, the Swiss would have been more conciliatory if they had Libya on their doorstep. And if Libya reopens its illegal migrant floodgates, the swiss could't care less.
Where that to happen, Malta would, yet again, be forced to face the problem on its own, with no EU solidarity shown, and the Swiss laughing their heads off from the top of their alpine chalets!
L Buhagiar
Feb 26th 2010, 08:58
Malta and Europe cannot be held ransom by a non-EU state (although part of Shengen). If Gaddafi decides to ignore the deal on illegal immigrants than it's Malta which suffers most and I don't see Switzerland giving a helping hand to our situation. The EU should tell the Swiss to either remove the ban or face an expulsion from Schengen. The Swiss have always been a "bandiera bajda" and acted selfishly in all aspects of history.
john micallef
Feb 26th 2010, 08:32
instead of dealing with libya the way it should be dealt with, we quarrel with a nation that is in europe's heart (although not a member of eu). instead of being heavy handed with libya when it comes to illegal migration we are showing that we will surrender in this fight and mind you, their leader declared a jihad against not only swithzerland but to the whole western world. switzerland's stand was right, that no one of its citizens should be dealt with in that way and our dear eu leaders shoulder this in favour of ghaddafi. shame on you all, switzerland is protecting its citizens and interest not like many eu leaders who don't even bother to protect europe's block security. let's see if this holy war will have a negative impact on swiss investment in malta or maybe even, god forbid, a terrorist attack on swiss interests in malta.
Charles Caruana Carabez
Feb 26th 2010, 07:36
Oh, so it's 'Jihad' now, a 'holy war'. One wonders what God's dignity has to do with any alleged misdemeanours by Gaddafi's son. Holy war my foot.
edward bartolo
Feb 26th 2010, 06:55
Please, permit this in Maltese as it is the best I can find at the moment:
Il-Malti jghid: "Iddardarx l-ghajn li trid tixrob minnha!"
Franco Farrugia
Feb 26th 2010, 06:18
Do we remember what they say of the Italians? 'Coraggio ... fuggiamo!' I think it says it all.
s pace
Feb 26th 2010, 01:16
When considering realpolitics and every other thing apart, from their point of view the Swiss did not have much option. After apparently doing everything to solve the impasse, they have still not obtained the release of their citizens.
Unlike any other EU country including ours, the Swiss were not going to let any of their citizens rot for years in a Libyan jail for fear of using a vetoe or a drastic action. They are showing that they value their individual citizens much more than any other EU country value theirs, irrispective of consequences. Swiss citizenship is 'cool'. A threat on any of their citizens is a threat on the whole national security. A lesson to all other countries.
On the other hand, our country should still do what it is best for its interest, even if ignoring this ban. Templars can deal with such problems by themselves, especially when they smell a jihad.