Urgent talks in Malta on Frontex rules

Evarist Saliba

Apr 14th 2010, 21:42

Let Ms Malstrom come to Malta.
It has been my experience that many foreign diplomats and politicians who visited Malta were taken aback (in spite of the briefing that they had from their officers) to find such a small crowded state, without any hinterland or adjacent countries which could ease the pressure that this situation produced.
Ms Malstrom who comes from a vast country must be shown this reality.
Not that I believe that she will do any immediate U-turn. The issue has advanced too much for that, and in any case, an EU Commissioner is too high to eat humble pie.
She should be told, once again but for the last time, that a Frontex as she wants to foist on us, is simply not acceptable.

Denis Catania

Apr 14th 2010, 16:53

Don't host Frontex. Tell the EU that Malta will be good partners on mission Chronos, Malta will call you when they see illegal immigrants at sea and you can come and pick them up and take them to the host country. Malta don't host Frontex.

Etienne Bonanno

Apr 14th 2010, 15:39

Agreed with most of the below comments. It is in nobody's interest for Malta to host Frontex under these rules - least of all the immigrants'. Malta is manifestly ill-equipped and under-resourced to handle all the arrivals. Immigrants would end up even more cramped that they are at the moment and the resentment against them would be even worse.
The government MUST refuse any offer Malstrom cares to make and refuse to host Frontex. In that way immigrants would go to a country that is better equipped to handle them.
Any less than this and we would get yet another confirmation of the ineffectiveness of the present government vis a vis the immigration problem.

Sean Grima

Apr 14th 2010, 15:36

if anybody had to take your comments seriously, we would be the laughing stock of the world. whilst i agree that the maltese government should not adhere to these guidelines, this will in no way detract from our obligations to help migrants - and yes, even though they are African, and black, louise - according to Maltese law.

Raymond Sammut

Apr 14th 2010, 15:15

"Ms Malmström's main meetings in Malta are expected to be held with Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, although she is also expected to meet Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and MEPs."

This person thinks big. And these are only "main meetings". Who else will she be meeting? Maybe the bishops, or the Grand Master's representative or NGO leaders. Dr Gonzi, Malta's Prime Minister, will be looking forward to meet her. Malta's Prime Minister isn't like other Prime Ministers. Dr Gonzi has got nothing else on his plate.

Now we know why for more than two years we kept seeing one illegal boat after another making it into Hay Wharf on a daily basis. Because Gonzi's government swallowed the bait and accepted to host this abominable mission. Don't worry, they kept saying. The illegals in Malta will just move on, until Sweden started to bounce them back to Malta.

The Maltese government doesn't have to talk to this person. No one should be talking to her when she lands at the MIA. What Gonzi has to do is to authorize AFM patrols to rescue and safely return to Tripoli with assistance from Libya, and stop this EU travesty.

Louise Vella

Apr 14th 2010, 14:46

The Swede Cecilia Malmstrom, the EU Commissioner responsible for illegal immigrants, is following Sweden's agenda of increasing the burden on the countries of southern Europe and making us take more and more illegal immigrants with the excuse that they are "rescued". If Malmstrom's policy is accepted by the Maltese government, Malta will become the dumping ground of the central Mediterranean Sea because any passing vessel, Frontex or not, will pick up any boatful of illegal immgrants and come and drop them off in Malta.

Malta will then become a colony for African illegal immigrants because other countries, starting with Sweden, will refuse to share the burden. Let's not forget that Sweden has sent back to Malta over 500 illegal immigrants who had escaped to that country. Malmstrom showed her contempt for Malta when she sent a personal letter to MEPs urging them to vote for her new Frontex guidelines even though she knew that these guidelines go against Malta's interests and were being opposed by the Maltese government.

=D.Calleja

Apr 14th 2010, 14:39

Let us not ruin this golden opportunity that we have been offered by the European parliament!!! I can't believe our MEPs ever fought against it. Keep out of any Frontex operation and do not let Ms. Malmström hoodwink you into any hosting agreements.
The current situation suits us fine. . . . . . we point out the illegal immigrant boats and let the hosting country deal with the problem . . . . brilliant!!!

lgalea

Apr 14th 2010, 14:35

Cecilia Malmström just stop interfering in our internal affairs, put your money where your grouper mouth is and host AFFRONTEX in your own country. WE DO NOT WANT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN MALTA. YOU TAKE THEM CECILIA.

Sean Grima

Apr 14th 2010, 14:00

@john azzopardi: human rights are not subject to majority vote, even assuming that the majority supports your views.

MBorg

Apr 14th 2010, 13:29

Ms Malmstrom personal visit to Malta will not change the new Frontex guidelines. If she really wants Malta to form part of Frontex this year , her job is not to hold talks with the Maltese authorities but with the European Commission . They are the ones who must change these rules.

It is right that the Government is not giving in . Malta must not host the Frontex mission or take part in frontex unless these new contrversial guidelines are changed.

Simon Ciantar

Apr 14th 2010, 12:50

A NOTE TO ALL MALTESE POLITICIANS : We dont want Europe' s problems dumped at our feet AT NO COST - dont let them entice you with money - WE DONT WANT EUROPE's MONEY for this . The EU has shown how hypocrtical it can be - does it really think we will accept these terms ?- what on earth is Malmström coming over for if not to try and buy the will of our weak politicians ? the decision has been taken - if I was the Government I would refuse to meet her point blank - Sometimes I think we actually need the likes of Mintoff and Tacher back in our political scene ! For example can someone explain to me why did the Maltese Government abstain from the vote - if you cant get yourself to vote against such a rule which is so blatently against your national interest - will you ever have the nerve to do so ??????

John Azzopardi

Apr 14th 2010, 12:20

Frontex does not work in the interest of Malta. Period. We don't want anymore illegal immigrants landing on our shores. Let's not fall for the few EURO's we get and then we are stuck with the problems in later years. Let Europe take the burden of the illegal immigrants that cross over to Malta for Europe.

Mario Tabone-Vassallo

Apr 14th 2010, 10:47

Jien kont favur l-UE mill-ewwel u ghadni, izda UE ta' pajjizi stmati indaqs. Imxew mill-ghar maghna u qed jittrattawna ta' tapit, imbaghad jaghtuna ftit cejca flus biex il-politici taghna jkunu jistghu jidhru sbieh f'ghajnejn il-boloh f'Malta, kif kienu jaghtu l-mirja lis-slavag biex johdulhom id-deheb. Tinhtieg triq tan-nofs bejn l-arroganza tat-tmeninijiet u l-laghaqizmu ta' issa. Kieku mhux ghax kien Berlusconi, u jien ma jienx xi ammiratur tieghu, gheriqna. Ghaldaqstant, grazzi Berlusconi

g.c.Forte

Apr 14th 2010, 10:39

Ms Malmstrom should go down the streets and take the people`s opinion, on this matter, because ALL the politicians are taking the citizens for a ride. " Hadd ma irid jirfes il kallu ta hadd " and because Dr.Sant made an honest statement in parliament, he was bombarded. When a person, showed and expressed his views on this matter, he was accused of racism, and this was nearly 10 years ago. Today after all these years there are people who was against him and today they are agreeing with his views.