Editorial
Libyan realities for Europe on migration flow
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has returned to the charge on the issue of illegal migration from Africa through Libya to Europe. Speaking at the opening of the EU-Africa summit hosted by Libya, he warned his country would no longer act as the coastguard for Europe and reiterated his demand for €5 billion a year from the European Union to stop African migrants from flooding into Europe.
Using similar colourful language to that he employed while on a visit to Italy four months ago, Col Gaddafi said: “We should stop this illegal immigration. If we don’t, Europe will become black, it will be overwhelmed by people with different religions, it will change… Only Italy had understood the situation”, pointing out that “because it had cooperated with Libya” (a reference to the financial deal reached with Italy last year), it had managed to delay illegal immigration”. It was inevitable that a summit of which he was the host, with an audience comprised of leaders from all over Europe – though notably missing those of the three most important countries: Germany, France and Britain – would present an irresistible opportunity for President Gaddafi to ratchet up the negotiation over aid by Europe to his country to deal with its illegal immigration problems.
Even setting aside for a moment the appropriateness of his remarks at a meeting ostensibly dealing with achieving a common position between Africa and Europe on climate change and African development, or the language in which they were expressed for an audience that included many of the leaders of the “black” countries of origin from which many illegal immigrants arrive, Col Gaddafi’s main point on this issue would have been closely noted by European leaders.
The EU is in the opening stages of protracted negotiations with Libya over how to control illegal immigration both into Libya, where it poses an undoubted problem to President Gaddafi, and from Libya through the central Mediterranean into Europe, which affects the whole continent but most especially Malta and Italy. The reality is that Col Gaddafi can turn on the tap of illegal immigration at will. While this year has seen a sharp drop in numbers, this country remains vulnerable to what happens in Libya.
Jon Hoisaeter, the Malta representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, wrote thus on the migration problem early last month: “It is still going to be a bumpy road ahead. Malta is likely to receive asylum-seekers and migrants also in the future.”
However, while Col Gaddafi’s message is clear to us, it is not necessarily certain it has been taken on board in the rest of a Europe so beset by economic problems. European Home Affairs Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, a Swede, has been circumspect about the cooperation agreement signed with Libya on October 6. She does not in any case command the funds that could lead to the kind of deal Col Gaddafi is asking for, even if she felt minded to meet his demands. EU countries would have to agree to find whatever funds were finally decided upon.
From Malta’s perspective, there can be only one way forward. That is to continue to encourage the European Commission to pursue a twin-track dialogue with Libya: at the technical level to establish their border control requirements and to facilitate their implementation; and at the diplomatic level to encourage Libyan cooperation in the field of migration and human rights. The momentum of the cooperation agreement with Libya needs to be speeded up.
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Sean Grima
Dec 16th 2010, 10:45
as usual, the comments prove that racism is the product of ignorance.
Louise Vella
Dec 9th 2010, 15:52
Gaddafi said: "If we don't, Europe will become black, it will be overwhelmed by people with different religions, it will change". I'm very surprised that UNHCR, JRS and the other NGOs that favour illegal immigrants have not commented on Gaddafi's statement.
Louise Vella
Dec 9th 2010, 15:44
"Libya will no longer act as the coastguard for Europe"! We have been warned. Europe must set up its own coastguard to defend itself. It will cost much less than €5 billion a year.
george mercieca
Dec 9th 2010, 15:25
well said T Camilleri took the words right out of my mouth . like some one commented yesterday wish Ronald Ragan was still precident gadaffi would have more than a broken hand . god bless regan .
Kurt Waschnig
Dec 9th 2010, 14:24
The influx of people from African countries and from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan etc. cannot be stopped. People are driven by despair to find a better life in the European Union.
There are no jobs, no social welfare system, no primary healthcare, no education, wars and terror, lives of people are at risk every day.
There is no freedom of speech or an independent judiciary and no democracy. Those people are hopeless and feel a natural drive to live in a secure environment without fear for their life.
The influx will continue and will only decrease when Western countries finally realise to improve the standard of living in those countries and to give financial assistance for education, jobs, health care and especially to eradicate illiteracy.
Should these measures are applied less people will try to leave their countries. They will see a future at home and by making it mandatory for children to go to school a lot will be achieved.
Especially Christians must help the poor But Malta cannot accommodate countless refugees.
The European Union should take refugees from Malta and let them stay in other European countries.
micallef a.
Dec 9th 2010, 12:34
We need to help illegal imigrants continue their journey to Europe and
America. These countries are responsable for their misery, creating wars for them
and extracting their natural resources and sucking their blood. They have
been enslaving these people for many years and they do this for
their queens and their countries. They have a right to go to Europe where
their natural resources go. For example France extracts uranium from Niger,
whilst the people in Niger die of hunger. Please explain.
Joseph Cauchi
Dec 9th 2010, 11:45
.
Col Gaddafi said: “We should stop this illegal immigration. If we don’t, Europe will become black, it will be overwhelmed by people with different religions, it will change… Only Italy had understood the situation”, pointing out that “because it had cooperated with Libya”.
My main concern is not the question of colour, but rather the “different religions”, i.e. Islam.
Unfortunately Islam seems not to be compatible with other religions as it is an intolerable religion, unlike Christianity!
Have we ever wondered if Malta or even Europe would ever succumb to Col. Gaddafi’s threats of the ISLAMIFICATION of Europe, what would the consequences be?
Just check this CNN report on this link: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/12/07/iran.christian.death.sentence/index.html?hpt=T2
JC.
T Camilleri
Dec 9th 2010, 09:51
All illegal immigrants must be expelled back to their own countries to send the message that illegal entry will not be tolerated under no circumstances and a naval blockade be enforced on Libya with the power to turn back all illegal immigrants boats back and even use force if necessary. That is the only way the illegal immigrants problems will be solved and any maverick government stopped from turning Europe into a black continent.