UK and Denmark unwilling to take refugees
EU member states, with the exception of Denmark and the UK, have warmed up to the idea of taking a share of refugees should there be an exodus from Libya, according to Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgeieva.
Malta worked very closely with the UK over the past weeks to evacuate people from the troubled North African state and British Prime Minister David Cameron even thanked the island in the House of Commons.
Notwithstanding the resistance of Denmark and the UK, the announcement signals a marked improvement over the situation in the past days when many more member states made it clear they would be ready to help on humanitarian grounds but not take refugees.
Following the start of the Libyan uprising, six Mediterranean EU members, including Malta, made a formal proposal, asking for a special reallocation mechanism to share Libyan refugees who could flee to Malta and Italy, the closest ports of call. Some countries vehemently opposed the idea.
Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, the UK, Austria and Germany had all spoken against. Sweden had even said it had not asked for any burden sharing when a few years ago it took 32,000 Iraqi refugees over a 12-month period.
The escalating violence in Libya and the prospects of fully-fledged civil war seem to have pushed many EU countries to have a change of heart. These have now communicated with the European Commission declaring they will be able to host some “Libyan” refugees.
Austria, which originally said its doors were closed, said it would be able to host about 6,000 refugees.
Commission sources said that although the “biblical exodus” predicted by Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has so far not materialised, it was not excluded many in Libya would try to escape to Europe if the conflict became more bloody. Until now, almost 120,000 people are believed to have fled to the Libyan borders with Egypt and Tunisia and the EU is coordinating the evacuation of these people towards their home countries.
Malta is assisting in this operation and has put at the disposal of the EU six Air Malta flights to take people from Djerba in Tunisia to their final destination.
The EU said member states had put at its disposal 52 planes and five vessels to be able to conduct the operation.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
23 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
E. Azzopardi
Mar 10th 2011, 15:41
How nice to get all those "Thank Yous" after evacuating so many people of so many countries.
But we need something tangable. If these countries, which should be forming part of this so called "EU Solidarity" still refuse to comply and if what is being said actually happens ( we hope not), then we take our share and let the others "proceed north". We do not need to tell the Italians what to do. They know, because it was thanks to them alone that this immigration stopped. It is not that simple but we have to make it simple.
Amanda Wilkes
Mar 10th 2011, 15:13
RE: F.HART'S Comments - UK - Damned if we do, Damned if we don't
I very much agree with these comments. Also a avid reader of the ToM, but really fed up with not ever having fair comments towards us. I do think we could handle a few (a hundred or two) refugees, and surprised that Cameron refused, though I shouldn't be - he is a Tory - and they never support Europe.
But please stop blaming everything in this world on people who work, take of their families and are not so different than you, just because they are British.
W Spencer
Mar 10th 2011, 16:30
The Tories took the UK into the EU, and will not call a referendum ( as promised ) on staying / leaving the EU. So they do support Europe.
However, if Malta / Gozo allowed 42,000 ( 10% of the Islands population ) legal / illegal immigrants and fake asylum seekers to settle into the Islands, and welcome them into the Benefit System, then they would know how the UK feels at having 10% of their population as legal / illegal immigrants and fake asylum seekers. Enough is enough !!
Paul Barrett
Mar 11th 2011, 00:33
@ W Spencer
Actually I think you are slightly out on the figures - Malta would need to take 45,000 legal/illegal immigrants to come up to the estimated saturation of the UK at the moment and there are more getting in all the time. On top of that, 2nd and 3rd generation of the earlier arrivals are now well entrenched in just about every aspect of British life. The old way of life has all but gone as the new blood is taking over and demanding their rights both peacefully and by terror (7/7).
That their is some alarm at burden sharing on top of the already saturated level in immigration is not just Political posturing it is a matter of Britain too being overrun.
Robert Callus
Mar 10th 2011, 14:13
Fleeing people neither care about burden sharing not the beauty of the tent. They look for the first safe place which mostly depends on which part of Libya they happen to find themselves in.
Cameron is just trying to be populistic towards his own voters (being extremely irresponsible while doing so). Dr Mifsud Bonnici is taking the necessary measures - we are a civilized democracy and will not leave people sleeping in the streets. And I'm sure he doesn't take decisions based on our Louise Vellas and other browse-the-Internet-post-a-comment expert opinion.
malcolm seychell
Mar 10th 2011, 13:19
Hope much I would like to have cameron as my prime minister. Ara hawn inlestu tined bil lest qeghdin ha jigu kemm jifilhu
Corinne Vella
Mar 10th 2011, 15:51
You could move to the UK and take up British citizenship. Beware: you might be mistaken for a wog.
s ciantar
Mar 10th 2011, 12:52
The minister's speech is a disgrace . He sounds like a fatalist who is totally resigned to his fate without the energy to try and change his destiny . What a disgrace of a speech Mr Mifsud Bonnici missek tishi - "who knows what can happen" - Mr Minister that is exactly why you plan for the unexpected - you should have learnt a lesson when the two fighter jets arrived - now you are duty bound to see that it does not happen again - if you give them aslyum you are opening the gates - just as you have done for refugees by accepting to participate in Frontex - for a moment i thought you would be able to resist the pressure but evidently you are too weak !! imsieken ahna
Corinne Vella
Mar 10th 2011, 18:33
Asylum is not negotiable.
Louise Vella
Mar 10th 2011, 12:34
This looks like a fool's gamble. If we open our doors we'll get thousands, not only Libyans but also subsaharan Africans who were in Libya in transit to Europe. Then the Maltese government will have to go begging all over Europe for this country to take 10 and the other
to take 20 of our unwanted refugees. And we'll remain carrying the biggest part of the burden. At most the EU will give us some money to make us keep our mouth shut, but we'll have thousands of them roaming the streets of our towns and villages - much more than now. The
Maltese government had better listened to the voice of the common people of Malta.
Corinne Vella
Mar 10th 2011, 18:31
There are no doors. There is only an open shoreline. The alternative to allowing a boat to land here is death by drowning or dehydration.
Sean Grima
Mar 10th 2011, 12:24
yes, leave them to die of hunger, war, disease or something else in africa.
Iris Azzopardi
Mar 10th 2011, 11:32
Does it mean that the other 24 EU member states will be falling over themselves to take refugees from Malta?
John Micallef
Mar 10th 2011, 10:46
Nirringrazja l'Alla, li l-ahbarijiet min Malta mhux trasmessi fuq Satelite services.
Ghax il- bierah sthajilt il- Carl Mifsud Bonnici ha jghidilna ukoll li ghandhom welcome drink kif jaslu Malta.
U ejja, li jitilqu min pajjizom f'dawn ic-cirkustanzi in a way nifima, imma nhallu dan bhala l-ahhar resort f'tali sitwazzjoni, mentri b'dik il- press release tal- bierah, ZGUR li il- messag li hareg kien skorret. ZGUR li libjani li jghixu Malta na ntiohomx tort jekk jghidlu lil qraba taghom jaqbdu dghajsa u jigu Malta.
Meta ha nitghalmu li charity begins @ home!!?? Specjament meta naqra li: UK and Denmark unwilling to take refugees. Ghax ahna literalment 'nilqawhom' imbghad irridu ninzlu ahna arkubtejna ghalihom biex naraw il min ha nwiekuhom!!
Sandro Tonna
Mar 10th 2011, 10:41
That's just fine. The UK's star performer, the Rt. Hon. David Cameron, P.M. of the UK, Leader of a bungling Conservative party and half of a much mocked Coalition, had nothing but lavish praise for our country a few days ago but is now seemingly unwilling to harbour a few refugees lest H.M.S's Cumberland deck gets dirty.
As for Denmark's role, the least said the better. In case you miss it, Rasmussen is Danish and NATO top brass so you would do well to tremble in his presence if he gets negative. Leave us in peace in the Med, we do not need you.
G. Borg
Mar 10th 2011, 12:21
Mr.Tonna, as far i know, David Cameron thanked the Maltese nation for assisting Britain in evacuating our citizens from Libya....we have enough problems with 'refugees' coming in from France....sorry, Mr.Tonna we are full up to the brim.
CEllul
Mar 10th 2011, 18:46
Our history books is filled with special thanks coming from the English government. We entrusted our hope in the English people and they colonized us, despoiling our palaces from the order's masterpieces in the process. We fought their wars and they just gave us pocket money to rebuild the country and a tin medal. We shouldn't be surprised that they had decided to treat us in the way they are currently doing.
Pace Martin
Mar 10th 2011, 10:22
All it take is to give them some ships, several are resting in docks around Europe, their land produce fuel and use their brain, they can navigate to northern Europe ux!!!!!
K. Rizzo
Mar 10th 2011, 10:07
Basta Cameron...lots of bull is all he's got! Keep your thank you's mate, actions speak much louder than words. When you asked us for help we didn't just talk about it but DID it! Now be a man, stand up and be counted!
Charles Sammut
Mar 10th 2011, 10:23
Do you think that Cameron is stupid? The UK needs more muslim immigrants like it needs a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. Same with Denmark and the rest of Europe for that matter. At this rate, if we keep taking all the world's refugees, we will become refugees ourselves. This asylum business is being grossly abused both by 'refugees' and those parasitic NGOs raking in huge amounts of money for being generous with other people's money and lands.
F Hart
Mar 10th 2011, 11:12
The Uk is flooded with refugees,legal and illegal and assylum seekers from all over the world.The Uk cant take any more .The British way of life is changing everyday..and not for the good.I am all for people seeking refuge from a war torn country,or if they are in fear of their lives....but if the Uk is the land of milk and honey..(free houses...money to live on...free hospital care.,unless of course ifyou are British,,) why go somewhere to be safe ,have freedom of speach and then protest about the way of life there ? I am British born and feel like the "ethnic minority " .Have any of you ever been to Southall,in Middlesex ? I am not going to say people should go back to where they came from I know thats not possible..but come on guys.......the Uk needs more refugees like I need hole in the head.....Malta cannot afford to take many more either..for the same reasons....so how do we help to make these peoples lives better so they can stay where they are...I am an avid reader of the posts on here and it seems like the UK is damned if it does and damned if it doesnt
Mario Micallef
Mar 10th 2011, 11:48
Mr Hart, if the UK was so fond of multiculturism..then that's the UKs' problem...everybody knows that multiculturalism failed in Europe and is being admitted by the top leaders...the funny thing is that MY country always excels in giving a helping hand but when it needs a hand back the so called european brotherhood is nowhere to be found! we've had our fair share of burdens to carry...enough is enough!!
G. Borg
Mar 10th 2011, 12:14
Totally agree with F.Hart.....and well done, David Cameron for having the guts to say 'No'...we are full up and have done more than enough to give refugees the chance of a new life...some of them have thanked our generous hospitality with terrorism...incidentally, the majority of our 'refugees' come from France having crossed continnents and tens of safe countries to get there.