Malta honours former European Commissioner
Photo: Reuben Piscopo, DOI
Former European Commissioner for Justice and Immigration Jacques Barrot was this morning bestowed with Gieh ir-Repubblika by President George Abela.
The award was given as “Malta’s gratitude and respect” to Mr Barrot for being instrumental in the implementation of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and for putting forward Malta’s perspective of solidarity and burden sharing.
President Abela said Mr Barrot was also instrumental in the setting up of the European Asylum Support Office in Malta.
“It is more than fitting that he deserves our respect and gratitude for what he did with our people in one of the most difficult challenges we had to face in recent years,” he said during the ceremony, held at the Palace in Valletta.
Mr Barrot described the moment as the highest point of his career. He said he was he was flattered to be given such recognition by Malta in the presence of “his close friend (Justice Minister) Carm Mifsud Bonnici”.
On immigration, Mr Barrot said:
“We have managed to obtain European solidarity to conform with European values. It is necessary to have solidarity. It is very important that all states show solidarity with countries like Malta, Greece and others in the south of the EU which have to deal with an influx of illegal migrants from African states,” he said.
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Jesmond Micallef
Feb 18th 2011, 17:18
I welcome this award to Former European Commissioner for Justice and Immigration Jacques Barrot. I still believe that the people from the African continent be shown the solidarity they deserve on their own home grounds too. Well done for this Gieh ir-Repubblika award by President Dr. George Abela.
Patrick Mallia
Feb 18th 2011, 15:48
Pace Martin agree with you.
Setting up the asylum support office in Malta so that illegal immigrants wil be diverted to Malta. How lackey or rather as they used to call them lustra scarpi can PN Governments be?
Pace Martin
Feb 18th 2011, 13:39
How about honouring the Police Force, Armed Forces of Malta and also the medical and health response team that coordinate with the former entities for saving and taking care of these irregular immigrants. As far as I know Italian Interior Minister Maroni a few days ago stated that Italy stand alone in the struggle against illegal immigrants as Europe is deaf and blind regarding this human tragedy in the Mediterranean
S. Caruana
Feb 18th 2011, 12:38
Well done!
Now how about honouring people like the Challenge 8000 team who reached the summit of Mount Everest. Suffice to mention that Dr. Gregory Attard saved a british climber while on the mountain.
Also Thomas Cremona for his participation in breaking the record of crossing the Atlantic with a rowing boat.
Such MALTESE nationals/athletes deserve recognition by the President of Malta.