Not enough EU states back action on migrants

Not enough EU member states support the idea of activating an emergency directive that would oblige them to resettle asylum seekers arriving in Malta from Libya, it emerged during a debate in the European Parliament, yesterday.

“Let me tell you clearly that until today no qualified majority exists among member states on the need to activate this directive,” EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cacilia Malmstrom told MEPs last night.

Under increasing pressure from Malta and MEPs to activate the Temporary Protection Directive – an emergency mechanism created by the EU in 2001 to come into force in case of a massive influx of displaced people – Commissioner Malmström said she was considering the move but member states were still sceptical.

They still did not feel the time had come to trigger the mechanism.

The mechanism has never been put into practice so far. Under the directive, the EU Council, composed of member state governments, would have to approve its application through a qualified majority following a proposal by the Commission.

Once in place, asylum seekers arriving in Malta and Italy could be granted temporary protection for up to two years and be resettled in other member states.

“I will continue monitoring the situation on a daily basis and we hope to be able to come to some kind of conclusion during next week’s Council meeting of Justice and Home Affairs. However ,I repeat that until now, there is no qualified majority on the activation of this mechanism,” the Commissioner said.

During a two-hour debate on the migratory flows in the southern Mediterranean, MEPs, particularly from Italy and Malta, dominated the procedures with continuous calls for member states to show concrete solidarity and the Commission to take the initiative and act.

“Commissioner Malmstrom – you should show political leadership and propose the activation of the temporary protection directive,” Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil said.

“In Malta there is an emergency as 800 people arriving in 24 hours is the same as if 120,000 have arrived in France. The Commission should not base its analysis on mere numbers but in relative terms. On the other hand, EU member states should honour their promises and show real solidarity,” he said.

Labour MEP John Attard Montalto invited the Commission to state what it considers to be the right number of asylum seekers reaching Europe before activating the emergency solidarity clause.

“We have an unfolding tragedy today and we need to act today. Let’s not be the man of yesterday. The solidarity clause has to be activated now and not let the crisis grow before acting. That might be too late,” he told Commissioner Malmstrom.

Last week Malta formally asked the Commission to propose the activation of the emergency mechanism. However, Brussels replied that the conditions for a “mass influx” had not yet been satisfied.

What other MEPs said:

Mario Mauro: “Malta and Italy can’t bear all this brunt. The Commission should move and activate the solidarity mechanism with immediate effect.”

Jean Lambert: “What criteria would the Commission be using to determine whether to activate the temporary directive? We have a tragedy unfolding now,”

Mara Bizzotto: “Where is Brussels? Its response to this crisis has been shameful. Bring an end to the talk and start action now please.”

Mario Borghazio: “There is a lot of talk about the rights of refugees. What about the rights of the populations to keep living in the same conditions as they are now? We need direct actions and no more words.”

Salvatore Iacolino: “The EU has to take action and we hope that the temporary protection directive in invoked at the next Council meeting next week.”

David Sassoli: “EU governments need to shoulder their responsibility. Your job (Malmstrom) is to get the governments on board to show real solidarity.”

Carlo Casini: “This is a moment for Europe to show that solidarity really exists.”

Georgious Papanikolaou: “There has to be an obligation on all member states to take refugees from Libya. Internal resettlement is needed to reduce the burden on the frontline countries like Malta, Italy and Greece.”

Barbara Matera: “Solidarity should be like a good marriage – for better or for worse.”