Malmstrom refuses activation of solidarity mechanism
Germany ready to take 100 migrants from Malta
Despite calls by Malta and Italy to activate the solidarity mechanism obliging member states to share the burden of the current migration flows from Libya, Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom has once again argued against the proposal, stating that ‘the numbers are not yet huge’ to merit the activation of the temporary protection directive.
While recognising that 800 asylum seekers for Malta are a lot, she still held to her original position that “"it is not the case yet (to activate mechanism).”
Speaking in Brussels, she said: “There are perhaps over 2000 refugees from Libya, 800 in Malta - which is a lot for a tiny island, but not enough to trigger this mechanism.”
“There are also other ways member states can show their solidarity with Malta. For instance, contributing in the resettlement programme, we had that pilot project in Malta and it worked well,” she said.
The pilot project was put in place in 2008 by the Commission so that EU member states would resettle, on a voluntary basis, refugees from Malta. Less than 300 were resettled by the other 26 member states in three years.
Commissioner Malmstrom also said that the issue of migration in the Mediterranean is becoming “too emotional” and warned Italy and Malta not to play a “blame game” on whose fault was the recent capsize of a boat full of migrants close to Lampedusa.
“It is absolutely horrible, you'd have to be made out of stone not to be touched by this. Also the fact that there are people taking advantage of this, selling tickets for these overcrowded boats, with no life vests on board.”
Meanwhile, apart from an unfolding dispute with Malta over its refusal to let an AFM boat disembark asylum seekers in Lampedusa, Italy is also in dispute with another neighbour, France, as the latter is refusing to give entry permission to economic migrants from Tunisia which landed in Lampedusa.
France has warned that it is preparing to close the border with Italy if Rome continues to give temporary permits to the illegal immigrants to cross over to France.
GERMANY TO TAKE 100 MIGRANTS
Meanwhile Hans-Peter Friedrich, the German Home Affairs Minister,said in a speech in Berlin this morning that his country was prepared to take 100 migrants from Malta.
Germany took another 100 migrants from Malta last year.
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Louise Vella
Apr 8th 2011, 18:11
If 800 illegal immigrants is not a large number the Swede Cecilia Malmstrom should take them to Sweden. They all want to go there to benefit from Swedish social services.
Joseph Grech
Apr 8th 2011, 16:47
Comment 6 /contd. I intend to submit an action plan on this as soon as possible Finally we shall set up a single asylum procedure and a uniform status of international protection. Here Europe will assert its common values. My focus will be on prompt adoption by the co-legislators of the remaining proposals of the Common European Asylum System and on its implementation. The guiding words here will be solidarity and burden sharing. Solidarity and burden sharing INDEED!
Joseph Grech
Apr 8th 2011, 16:46
Comment 5 /contd. The European Internal Security Strategy will help us fight organised crime and terrorism in a more effective way. In particular I plan to present new proposals regarding human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children on the basis of the Lisbon Treaty. In 2010 I will table proposals on legal migration. In this area we need to consolidate existing legislation but also improve its coherence. We need to review the laws on family reunification. This debate will start by the launch of a green paper in 2010. In order to have a common policy on legal migration we also need an effective policy on removal and return to control illegal migration. We must pay particular attention to unaccompanied minors.
john Fenech
Apr 8th 2011, 16:38
Dear Commissioner Malmstrom, what is in your opinion a lot that will be enough? If you find this difficult to compute will you accept the answer from the Maltese Government? Like hell you will, from day one in your office you have been delivering the same rhetoric claptrap to keep the majority of the EU countries in velvet!
It is a pity to abrogate from our humanitarian responsibility but what is our option, possibly Prime Minister Donald Tusk, although it will be an uphill struggle, as the majority of our dear European friends do not have the space or the infrastructure to accommodate the few who are as yet not a lot!
Joseph Grech
Apr 8th 2011, 16:37
Comment 4 /contd.
Together with the Member States concerned, I also want to enlarge the Schengen area.
In parallel, I want to facilitate border check procedures for third country nationals
entering the Schengen area and also have an electronic record of those leaving it. I
intend to table a proposal on an entry/exit system and a registered travellers'
programme.
I am well aware of the Parliament's interest in visa facilitation for the Western Balkan
countries. It is my intention to work closely with Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina to
help them fulfil the applicable criteria so that they also can move towards visa
liberalisation in the not too distant future.
''
Joseph Grech
Apr 8th 2011, 16:36
Comment 3 /contd.
These elements are crucial if the Union is to bring added value in the fight against cross-border organised crime, such as terrorism, human trafficking, sexual exploitat ion of children, child pornography, corruption, cyber-crime and drugs.
The exchange of information, which is key here, must be improved taking into account
the highest possible standard of data protection.''
Further down in the conclusion to her official declaration Ms. Malmstrom promised:
''In order to achieve the main goals mentioned in question 4 I intend to reinforce the
role of Frontex, Europol and Cepol. I am convinced that they can work more
efficiently and in a more coordinated way. I will present proposals on the future role of
Frontex within a few months.
M Fenech
Apr 8th 2011, 16:32
Perhaps Commissioner Cecilia Malstorm would be kind enough to enlighten us and publicise the number of asylum seekers that have to seek refuge in Malta so that she may kindly activate the solidarity mechanism obliging member states to share the burden of the current migration flows. In the last few days (inc. yesterday) 987 asylums seekers have “invaded” the Maltese Islands. By simple proportion 987 asylum seekers are equivalent to 144,488 & 195,403 & 157,316 & 22,357 asylum seekers requesting refuge in Italy, Germany, France and Sweden respectively.
Joseph Grech
Apr 8th 2011, 16:31
Comment 2 - Malstrom's second priority:
* The establishment of a system for legal migration requires implementation of the
policy Plan on legal migration. Labour immigration can contribute to increased
competitiveness and economic vitality. In coordination with the Commissioner for
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, I intend to create a common, flexible
admission system that takes into account Member States' different needs of skills and
competence and will support their efforts to integrate legal migrants.''
* Priority 3 - ''To develop an internal security strategy for a more secure union that will contribute to protecting our citizens. The respect for fundamental rights and solidarity between Member States will be guiding principles. The strategy will include closer, more efficient law enforcement cooperation and a more coherent border management.
/contd
Muscat Pat
Apr 8th 2011, 16:27
So this is the 'solidarity' and 'subsidiarity' our leaders swallowed up in Lisbon and Dublin? What a mess Castille got us in!
Joseph Grech
Apr 8th 2011, 16:22
Comment 1. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom officially declared her intentions. Is she delivering? See the clip below and decide. This Comment is divided into sections:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/archive/malmstrom_replies_en.pdf
Malmstrom declared her Priorities would be:
* ''To establish a common system for asylum and a common migration policy in line with
the Pact on Immigration and Asylum.....to develop and implement a global
approach with a view to concerted management of migrants in partnership with third
countries. ..... to establish a single asylum system based on solidarity,
predictability and common responsibility based on international conventions and with
full respect for the right of asylum. A single area of protection must be set up in
Europe. We also need effective management of irregular immigration as well as a
more effective and humane return policy''.
Jesmar Cremona
Apr 8th 2011, 15:34
Germany is the only country that is giving us a little help. The only true friend of Malta.
The other countries just thanked us for our help in rescuing their nationals to flee Libya, what else are they doing to pay us back!?!
Edwin Mifsud
Apr 8th 2011, 15:30
“There are perhaps over 2000 refugees from Libya, 800 in Malta - which is a lot for a tiny island, but not enough to trigger this mechanism.”
Ms. Malmstrom here is the one million dollar question for you.
What figure will be enough to trigger this mechanisim?
Paul Xuereb
Apr 8th 2011, 15:23
Malmstrom should tell us how many illegal immigrants Sweden took up with the voluntary programme.
mario gellel
Apr 8th 2011, 14:56
What a bloody mess this EU membership has brought on us. First the PN accepted entry conditions with both eyes closed and at all cost. Now we are being treated like second class members.
REAL SHAME ON YOU PN . YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED ONLY IN DESTROYING MALTA.
Andrew Calleja
Apr 8th 2011, 14:52
Malmstrom has surely made a name for herself over the short period since she has been assigned responsibilities as Home Affairs EU commissioner. She keeps confirming how stubborn and insensitive she is on such a delicate subject.
Whose interests is she really safeguarding when taking these decisions? Is she really so detached from reality or is she trying to protect and please the majority of the EU member states who are unaffected and certainly unmoved by a situation so distant from their borders? Just contemplate how she might have reacted had the migration been triggered by a conflict in Russia with thousands seeking asylum in her beloved Sweden.
After all, what pressures could tiny Malta on its own, without valid support from the rest of the states, bring to bear on her comfortable little office in Belgium? I just wonder, had the matter been raised by a couple of the big guns in the EU instead of little minnow Malta would she have responded in the same manner?
Joseph Cauchi
Apr 8th 2011, 14:38
At the moment, Malta is in a Lose-Lose situation in regards to the invasion of illegal immigrants as it seems the EU is not prepared to trigger that solidarity mechanism that would alleviate Malta’s present conundrum.
However, Malta can change this situation by turning this into a Win-Win situation; How?
1.) Malta should give all illegal immigrants on the island a Temporary-Residence-Permit valid for six (6) months and
2.) Charge an Administration Fee of say €200 each time this permit is issued.
Once these illegal immigrants have this “Permit”, they would be free to travel all over the Schengen Zone unhindered and when their six-month expiry date is due, they would be issued with another “Permit” and so on and so on!
Just imagine the revenue for Malta, just from this exercise, if we were to have say 100,000 illegal immigrants with such a “permit” at €200 every six months that would amount to an annual revenue of €40 Million!
Malta go for it, this is a WIN-WIN opportunity!
Carpe Diem!
JC.
ACutajar
Apr 8th 2011, 17:00
@Joseph Cauchi This financial solution would be an interesting proposition although I would exclude genuine cases, namely, refugees who have successfully argued their case when they applied for political asylum. After all, these irregular migrants would have ALREADY paid for crossing the Mediterranean on their way towards the EU (i.e. Malta, Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Cyprus). Therefore, it would only be fair if they incur a further fee once they have clearly expressed their wish to move freely across the Union. This is a win-win situation not only to EU citizens/taxpayers in particular, but also to send a message to those sleazy individuals taking advantage from this delicate situation by selling tickets for these overcrowded boats and to send a firm message to economic migrants themselves that the EU is not a nirvana where all their problems disappear once they set foot on European soil.
J Camenzuli
Apr 8th 2011, 18:03
ACutajar all of them and no refugee excuses because those granting refugee status do not know what they are doing. How come Malta is the country giving the greatest number of refugee status?
Jesmond Micallef
Apr 8th 2011, 14:30
“It is absolutely horrible, you'd have to be made out of stone not to be touched by this. Also the fact that there are people taking advantage of this, selling tickets for these overcrowded boats, with no life vests on board.”
Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is so right here. If on etraces back the history in Africa its one tragedy following another in never ending perpetual motion. Dictatorships, civil wars and tribal conflicts, famine, disease, political instability, and the end result; the desperate mass movement of people with further tragic outcome !! Even looking at those dangerously loaded boats jam packed with people, gives one the creeps, literally !!
Germany will now take another 100 migrants from Malta. There you have it, Vielen dank Deutschland.
George Mamo
Apr 8th 2011, 14:24
Please read this about Queen Cecilia
http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=19480
Mela sakemm kwistajtu il-Vot ghal MEP's, tajjbin biss? Kollha kemm intom il-hamsa, tibzaw minnhom ma tmorrux tidru koroh.
martin chetcuti
Apr 8th 2011, 14:23
No wonder that Frontex never materialized. What if the Commisioner was Maltese ??
d. borg
Apr 8th 2011, 14:23
Kif spiccajna. Nittalbu u jaghduna biz-zmien. Ghalfejn ma naqbdux u niedu dawk id-decizjonijiet li huma ta gid ghal-pajjiz u min jogbu jogbu u min ma jogbux joqghod. Din is-sitwazzjoni saret insostennibli. Gonzi qum mir-raqda. Poplu Malti semma lehnek qabel ikun tard wisq.
K. Zammit
Apr 8th 2011, 14:22
Will the Honorable Commissioner please stipulate what number is enough to trigger the "activation of solidarity mechanism" that way we can co-ordinate with the Somalis and Eritreans and whoever else to call their co-nationals to change route from Lampedusa to Malta.
The honorable commissioner might then accept to trigger the mechanism and possible convince her government to and other Europeans to absorb most of these poor souls who are escaping a country (Libya) that was hosting them until they made enough money to pay for the illegal entry into Europe.
Oh the joys of European Union membership keep our mouth shut and do as we are told. Must have slipped EDDI|E'S mind to tell us about this.
Joseph Aquilina
Apr 8th 2011, 14:14
"GERMANY TO TAKE 100 MIGRANTS"
THESE SHOULD BE OUR NEW FRIENDS!!! Those that come and help us in the time of need; and not those that do their best to insult us on their media!!!
l fenech
Apr 8th 2011, 14:10
Povera piccola Malta.We have to apply for new EU membership every time we need something.