Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Malta supports Gaddafi’s request for EU funds
Malta will support Tripoli’s request for substantial EU funds in exchange for more control over the flow of illegal migrants leaving from Libya.
“Muammar Gaddafi’s recent request is nothing new and we think that it’s totally justified,” Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said yesterday.
“It is obvious that Libya, with its massive desert borders, needs help to control the flow of illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, who, at the end of the day, end up in Europe. We fully support Libya’s request as it is in the interest of Malta to have our neighbouring country capable of policing adequately its borders,” Dr Borg said.
During an official visit to Italy, Colonel Gaddafi made controversial comments about the problem and on Monday demanded €5 billion a year from the EU.
He said there were millions of “ignorant” Africans wanting to come to the EU and warned that Europe could “turn black” if Libya was not given the funding it needed.
Asked whether it was acceptable for the Libyan leader to threaten the EU he would effectively suspend migrant controls if the Europeans did not put their hand into their pockets, Dr Borg played down the issue dubbing President Gaddafi’s comments as “just negotiating tactics”.
“We all know the EU is trying to negotiate a framework agreement with Tripoli, which will also include a financial package and Gaddafi is probably trying to negotiate the best deal possible,” he said.
“However, irrespective of the amount of money involved, I reiterate that it is the interest of Malta, Italy and Spain that Libya is given the requited help. We can disagree on the amount but financial help is justified.”
Malta’s stance is also supported by Italy.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, a former European Justice Commissioner, said yesterday he expected the EU to discuss Colonel Gaddafi’s proposal by November.
“I think the issue will be discussed during an Arab-EU summit in Libya to be held next November and we will fully support the need of financial help to Libya,” he said.
Although the European Commission had originally rejected to react to Col Gaddafi’s comments, a spokesman yesterday hinted the EU would be considering Libya’s demands.
“We have already given Libya €50 million during the past years, money being used in three different pilot projects aimed at assisting the country deal with illegal immigration while respecting human rights,” he said.
“We would also like to state that we have been negotiating an agreement with Libya on this issue since 2008 and this will also entail a financial package,” he added, without replying to a question on whether €5 billion a year is on the high-side.
Two years ago, when talks between the EU and Libya started, Tripoli had asked for €1 billion a year. The upping of the sum five-fold has sent messages to Brussels that Libya wants to negotiate further.
Commission sources said the next round of technical negotiations between Libya and the EU were expected to be held in Tripoli in three weeks time. The sources said Brussels was aiming to be able to conclude talks with the Libyan authorities by the end of this year.
“However, it takes two to tango,” the sources were quick to add.
35 Comments
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Ms Tania Farrugia
Aug 26th 2011, 09:54
Hmmmm and Tonio/PN think that by giving into his demands and paying out he will actually keep his word?? Just like the gentleman he's been all these years?? Oh OK.....and just how will this happen, seeing that he is no longer the leader of his country?? My God, can't they see that he is only trying to set himself up comfortably for the future since he knows his days in power are over?! Apart from that, it's blackmail and as far as I know that's a crime in itself....
Joe Fenech
Sep 4th 2010, 11:38
It takes a real statesman to call white 'white' !
Western politicians apply auto censor to the point that Europe has had to put up with all this African nonsense for decades!!
I SAID IT MANY TIME:
Problems in their continent? Let THEM sort it out!!!
As to the 5 billion Euros - Gaddafi is just getting his own back after his people were unjustly picked on during a 20 year embargo. It has been admitted that the Lockerbie case was a farce as key evidence was not accessed.
May Gaddafi (together with Berlusconi and Sarkozy) serve as a model to a week bunch of idiots that define themselves as European politicians.
Sean Grima
Sep 3rd 2010, 08:27
ah! the militants are out in force!
Martin Cassar
Sep 2nd 2010, 23:23
Gaddafi arm-twisting Europe and getting taller than the minarets and steeples.
Apparently after many years of isolation after the well fabricated allegation [my apology to raise the eye brows of CIA, FBI and MOSSAD] over the Lockerbie terrorist saga Gaddafi is getting the adequate media attention he is enthusiast and striving for.
Obviously, during this time of financial earthquakes (thanks to George Bush useless and illegal wars that didn’t achieve a thing) European governments should listen attentively to Gaddafi while wishing the Libyan oil pipes not to get shorter.
Want to be re-elected? Pay Gaddafi!
Gaddafi is stripping Europe and putting EU’s slogan of human rights at a severe test indeed.
Gaddafi while sipping his coffee at his tent in Libya could easily topple or [install] any EU government by simply sending few boats filled with illegal immigrants toward Europe. How would EU react?Kill immigrants?Or let them in?.
European government are checkmated. To kill the immigrants is a crime and to let the immigrants in would turn any government unpopular and lose votes. Today [old] Europe is harvesting its ugly history of colonialism in Africa.
malcolm seychell
Sep 2nd 2010, 21:40
I would give them to him straight away and reduce them from the funds of Local Ngos in europe who support illegal immigration, UNHCR, Amnesty International and UNIONS who want illegal immigrants and who recently said that these do not take jobs of the locals.
Money for money I trust more gaddafi then some unions and NGOs
Karl Consiglio
Sep 2nd 2010, 21:29
Why dont we make Africa white instead?
Karl Consiglio
Sep 2nd 2010, 21:25
He's not rich enough jew? Always prancing around like Micheal Jackson. He needs Gonzi to go tell him Malta agrees on his request for 5 billion? Why does he not give Malta some oil territory instead?
And anyway we not racist so why should we feel threatened with the thought of him letting Europe become black?
joe falzon
Sep 2nd 2010, 20:53
what is also ironic is that Tonio Borg's statement coincides with the PM's visit to Libya --- i can picture the PM and the colonel reading tonio borg's statement on a computer. what do they do afterwards? I don't know, maybe they play some computer game with a lot of bang! bANG!
joe falzon
Sep 2nd 2010, 20:39
i remember the PN criticizing Mintoff and the MLP for bringing Libyans into Malta....how is this backing gaddafi's request going to make malta appear vis-a-vis its European brothers? tonio borg said it was in the interests of spain and italy as well ----- do they therefore support tonio borg's pro-gaddafi policy? if malta is the only one supporting gaddafi then we're going to look like crap with the rest of the EU!!!
joe falzon
Sep 2nd 2010, 20:31
Either tonio borg is off his rocker if he expects malta and the rest of the EU to support Gaddafi who, as rightly stated below, seemed to have enough money to finance terrorists. if Gaddafi wants to 'Islamisize' Europe by filling it with uncontrolled-childbearing Muslims, do you think he is going to stop the 'flow' out of Libya!?......I think tonio borg is trying to kiss the rear end of gaddafi's camel thinking that gaddafi will show his gratitude to malta by giving her financial aid ---- you kiss my camel, i kiss yours!........wasn't that what mintoff did until gaddafi sent a patrol boat to threaten malta's oil exploration?
James A. Tyrrell
Sep 2nd 2010, 19:08
@victor pulis. You are 100% correct sir, nothing more than protection money. Gaddafi didn't seem to have a problem with funds when he was financing terrorists all over the world. Does it surprise me that the Maltese Government is backing his demand? No it doesn't.
D.Galea
Sep 2nd 2010, 18:46
Proof of consistency - MONEY NO PROBLEM!! I just hope Brussels will not be telling us to pay them off ourselves if we want to accept this so badly.
Pierre Sacco
Sep 2nd 2010, 16:45
Can we get shallower than this?! Malta supports Libya, as in the case of Switzerland!! They didn't tell Libya to repatriate the Swiss "hostage" kept captive in Tripoli, instead Malta blasted Switzerland for blocking entry to Geddafi and his minions! Our foreign minister's reaction is just outright bootlicking! And our PM visited libya for the revolution celebrations as well!! Nice one. Nothwitstanding we are part of the EU, we are still in the shadow of our wide mouthed neighbour. As someone said earlier, it seems we are paying Geddafi the "pizzo"! All this clown needs is to be threatened with sanctions again if he just says such things again. And yes, I beleive the mass immigration from Libya is orchestrated, maybe he's got a "European Infiltration Department"! Who knows?
Joanne Vassallo
Sep 2nd 2010, 16:08
..............And Mr Gaddafi has done it again.!!! Congratulations to this man!! I admire his stamina.
Come on guys which planet are you on?? Libya is HUGE and a rich country with its natural resourses, ie doesnt quite need money. On the contrary WE do need the money... and how!!!! Unfortunately we fail to see, accept or admit the reality behind all this!!
Our geographical position puts us as main targets yet nobody from the European Union really tried to help us along during the african influx. Why do we have to abide by everything the Eu says even when it doesnt apply to us like puppets on strings. For me its simply another cunning way of taking over Europe and spreading all that comes along with it........... and then here in Malta some authorities and the church are worrying about minor issues such as divorce in Malta!!!!!!
Alexander Morana
Sep 2nd 2010, 15:41
Perhaps the Minister should enlighten us from where and how is Malta and the rest of the 27 members of the EU are going to find an extra 5 billion Euros every year in times of budget restrains? Raising more taxes perhaps? Which is the easiest these Liberal, Socialists, Marxists technocrats of Brussels find very easy to do? Good luck Tonio with persuading your German champ on the idea.
mario gellel
Sep 2nd 2010, 13:46
WHO IS TONIO BORG TO SAY 'Malta supports Gaddafi’s request for EU funds'.
WHY NOT SAY THE PN FIDLERS ON THE ROOFS.
lgalea
Sep 2nd 2010, 13:39
http://euobserver.com/ headline news
Frattini warns of demographic bomb at Mediterranian borders
Today @ 10:03 CET
Italian FM Frattini has warned of a "demographic bomb at the Mediterranian borders" and urged Europe to work with sub-Sahran nations to halt immigration. In Tripoli he said illegal African immigrants arriving on Italian shores from Libya were cut from average 23,000 people per year to 300 in 2010.
Ten percent more foreign prisoners in Norway
Today @ 10:04 CET
The number of foreigners in Norwegian prisons has grown over 10% in just four years, with Lithuanians, Poles and Romanians making up the largest groups, daily Aftenposten reports. "The problems are the same in Sweden, Denmark and Finland," National Police Commissioner Ingelin Killengreen said.
P.Cassar
Sep 2nd 2010, 13:04
HOW TIMES CHANGE..................THIS COMING FROM A GONZIPN !!!!!!!!!.................I CAN'T HELP IMAGINING PN SUPPORTERS BITING THE DUST..................... REPEATEDLY.
victor pulis
Sep 2nd 2010, 13:00
There's another word for this kind of negotiations...Protection money.
john fenech
Sep 2nd 2010, 11:50
This offer by Malta Government is inappropriate because:
Libya already had cash and other security assistance to help curb the border security problem. Was the assistance used efficiently?
Most of the EU countries are doing exception trade with Libya, yet, none has as yet commented on this issue.
Questions:
What will be Malta’s share per year of the 5 billion Euro burden?
Why does the EU have to pay in cash for a country to perform its duty? Did the EU pay us in cash when we had non paying visitors coming from the South!
Or is this a new EU policy, cash payment to persuade enforcement of duty! Since when did France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria......have demanded cash to enforce their border security? This is the responsibility of the country concerned. How can one justify such a contribution especially to a country which is one of the richest in petrodollar!
Or it might be that, the Government is playing at politics!?
John Azzopardi
Sep 2nd 2010, 11:36
Now why would such a rich country like Libya want 5 bilion euros when the country is so rich in oil resources. If the man had said, let's start a fund of 5b and he will match some of that in the aid of African refugees in order to resettlement them back in their own countries, then I would say, that was a good idea, but to get 5 billion for himself, that is a ridiculous man to me. ANd the EU leadership should be ashamed of themselves for not saying one word. That is extorsion.
K Zammit
Sep 2nd 2010, 11:10
While PM Gonzi is in Libya he should try and make a statement saying that Libya and all Arab countries should convert to Christianity :-) I wonder how well that would go down ? Long live freedom of speech.
John Betts
Sep 2nd 2010, 10:59
Now why does the word 'extortion' come to mind? Perhaps because I've seen it in another headline on today's Times.....?
Robert Callus
Sep 2nd 2010, 10:49
This is EXTORTION. Libya has already used it in 2007 on the Bulgarian govt after THEY (Libyan authorities) framed up 5 Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian Doctor for "deliberately infecting Libyan children with HIV"
Obviously the medics were innocent. The virus had been there more than a year since the medics stated working in the hospital. However the govt of Bulgaria ended up paying money for each child's life in order to free the medics. They were declared innocent in less than 45 mins since they landed in Bulgaria.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 2nd 2010, 10:39
And here I was thinking that Libya was an oil rich country....Also entertaining to note how the PN has switched from a xenophobic anti Libyan party to Gadaffi's best buddies...
gcForte
Sep 2nd 2010, 12:34
I will give you 10 out of 10...........for your comment..... I always says that if you count all the roundabouts in all Malta and Gozo,there are not enough, compare them with the " U" turns that the P.N. governments have done. This is one of the most obvious.
patrick zammit
Sep 2nd 2010, 10:23
This is so sick.
Shall we start oentinue dishing out billions worth of taxpayers' money to every "mad dog" who threatens the EU with an invasion of illegal immigrants? For example there are Morocco, Tunisia, Algiers and Egypt together with the other countries to the East of the EU where illegal immigrants can enter the EU.
Is the EU so ineffective and incapable of of managing its own affairs by controlling its border?
Or is the EU only effective in making millionaires out of MEPs, Commissioners and other unelected EU officials?
D Gafa
Sep 2nd 2010, 09:50
What a disgrace ... Europe is blackmailed and our politicians support the blackmailer and visit him ... I am starting to doubt who is at the helm of the Maltese government
Louise Vella
Sep 2nd 2010, 09:48
I have been stunned by the silence of UNHCR and the do-gooder NGOs following Gaddafi's statement. UNHCR, JRS etc have been harping on the fact or fiction that we are dealing with refugees fleeing from civil wars in Africa. Gaddafi has called a spade a spade. He calls them "starving and uneducated Africans" trying to migrate to Europe to improve their economic conditions. Should this not be better done by developing Africa?
Moreover Gaddafi speaks of millions of them. UNHCR, JRS etc have always avoided speaking of numbers, presumably not to frighten us too much. But Africa has 1 000 million inhabitants, many of them unfortunately "starving and uneducated". How many millions should Malta take? How many millions should the EU take? And how much would they cost the Maltese and EU taxpayer?
Raymond Camilleri
Sep 2nd 2010, 10:49
your usual delusional tirades...yawn!
surprise: Gaddafi wants billions from YOUR taxes! hello? kmieni indunajt!
Tommy Cassar
Sep 2nd 2010, 11:11
Louise Vella None Louise. Not a single illegal immigrant must be allowed to remain in Malta. They MUST all be sent back and no holier than though attitude by their defenders.
Joe Bugeja
Sep 2nd 2010, 11:13
Raymond Camilleri dawk l-affarijiet ghidhom lil tal-JRS, Graffitti, lill-GWU, lil Sean Grima u lil dawk li s-soltu jiddefendu l-immigranti illegali ghax Louise u hafna ilhom li ndunaw bil-pjan mohbi.
Sean Grima
Sep 6th 2010, 14:00
you should spend your time writing science fiction.
Michelle Dimech
Sep 2nd 2010, 09:43
I don't like the way he 'negotiates' since its sounded more like a threat than a bargain. However, (and i'm just trying to figure this out in layman's terms) if u add up all the money spent yearly by EU countries effected by illegal immigrants, wouldn't it surpass €5 mil per year? Noted that we shouldn't be paying the price for ppl who are commited a crime but this 'quick fix' solution may actually work. It is in their interest to make sure no more ppl get to the EU since then they wouldn't be entitiled to be paid. The only thing which troubles me is, will they actually use humanitarian measures to keep these ppl from getting out or will they just supress them further to make sure that ppl are afraid to leave?
victor pulis
Sep 2nd 2010, 09:29
If Gaddafi's rquest is accepted is there a way of monitoring where he spends the money? Remember the €5 billion are to be used to buy arms to petrol Libya'ssouthern border. Could the arms find their way closer to the Northern border facing Europe instead?