Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
New rights for immigrants
Directive aimed at helping immigrants to integrate
Refugees and immigrants granted humanitarian status will acquire new residence rights after living in an EU country for five years, under legislation approved by the bloc but stridently opposed by Malta.
The directive, which will enter into force in two years’ time, will give hundreds of refugees and other sub-Saharan Africans in Malta a raft of new rights equal to those granted to non-EU citizens who come to live here legally.
They include equality of treatment with Maltese citizens in a wide range of economic and social areas, including free education, access to the labour market without the need of work permits and social security benefits.
At the same time, however, the immigrants will also acquire the right of freedom of movement and to reside in another EU member state. It means those stuck in Malta with nowhere to go can start moving freely around the EU and decide to take up residence together with their families in another member state. The legislation was approved by the majority of member states. Malta strongly objected due to what it considers an already heavy migration burden and voted against.
After the vote, it declared its disappointment that “the directive will render heavier the pressure Malta is under due to the number of beneficiaries of international protection present on the island combined with Malta’s limited absorption capacity”.
In 2008, when the proposal first came before Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, Malta had managed to block it single-handedly as the legislation needed unanimity to be approved. Arguing it would put the island under immense migration pressure, it had proposed bringing in the rules in 2018 or applying them on a voluntary basis but these proposals had been rejected by other member states.
Following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, migration issues only need a qualified majority to be approved and single member states can no longer veto legislation in this area.
Beneficiaries of the new rules will have to have lived in the country under international protection for five years. It is a known fact that many of those from Africa who enjoy protection status did not intend coming to the island but had aimed to reach France, Germany and other northern member states. This directive will give them another opportunity to do so.
A Commission official said yesterday the aim of the extension was to help in the integration of refugees and beneficiaries of international protection.
Malta’s declaration
Malta:
Regrets that the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/109/EC to extend its scope to beneficiaries of international protection does not take its difficulties into account. The directive will render heavier the pressure Malta is under due to the number of beneficiaries of international protection present on the island combined with Malta’s limited absorption capacity.
Makes particular reference to the explanatory statement of the report of the European Parliament on this proposal, which notes that this proposal may have the effect of exacerbating the pressure to which member states that host a disproportionate number of beneficiaries of international protection are subjected, due in particular to their geographical or demographic situation. The explanatory statement further stresses that the provisions of the directive should be applied in such a way as to facilitate the exercise of the right of beneficiaries of international protection who enjoy long-term resident status in a member state facing such disproportionate pressures to reside in a member state other than the one which granted them international protection.
Calls on the member states to take up this recommendation and to facilitate the movement of beneficiaries of international protection from Malta once they have acquired long-term residence status there with a view to mitigating the negative effects that would otherwise derive from the implementation of this directive.
Reiterates its call for greater solidarity through the intra-EU relocation of beneficiaries of international protection, as called for by the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and reaffirmed by the Council conclusions, endorsed by the European Council, on June 17, 2010.
Recalls that the European Union’s immigration and asylum policy must be governed by the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility in accordance with article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and declares that the proposal fails to incorporate measures to implement this principle in spite of the fact it is the first instrument to be adopted in the establishment of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).
Augurs that the other instruments to be adopted in the context of the CEAS fully respect the principle enshrined in article 80 TFEU and that the qualified majority voting regime is applied in line with this overarching principle.
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Stephen Koludrovic
Apr 15th 2011, 08:46
They will also be able to form their own political party, breaking the monopolistic grip that the PN and the PL have.
Mr Matt S
Apr 14th 2011, 21:42
Hahaha... Issa morru Xejru dawk il bnadar Blu bl-istilel sofor u ajtu IVA!!!!!.......
Ivan Attard
Apr 14th 2011, 15:13
If these ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS are one day to be given Maltese citizenship and EQUAL rights as us Maltese, I will be the first to RENOUNCE my Maltese citizenship and go to the US ILLEGALLY so I can be treated the same as your average american! I will also shred ANY voting document I receive in the meantime until that happens!
Mr Robert Callus
Apr 14th 2011, 18:18
It's only valid for refugees and immigrants granted humanitarian status not ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (your capitals).
Ms D Galea
Apr 14th 2011, 22:36
All the more fool you! Once these people are given equal rights and easy access to the rest of the EU , they will give people like you the third finger sign and go elsewhere for a better life for themselves and their families.
Joe Galea
Apr 14th 2011, 15:11
Malta is letting Africans work without permits yet Romanians and Bulgarians are EU citizens and they still need work permits considering that countries like Romanian imports from Malta around 16million euros a year.Do you call this is fair Mr Gonzi!!!
Mr Darby Allen
Apr 14th 2011, 14:01
Ms D Galea is absolutely right; most, if not all, of the immigrants "rescued" and brought here feel themselves to be prisoners.
I suggested in a letter to the Times a couple of years ago that Malta should give the immigrants passports, which would result in their leaving for other EU countries en masse.
Ms D Galea
Apr 14th 2011, 15:03
It is a known fact that the vast majority of them never wanted to end up in Malta in the first place. Who is his/her right mind would spend his/her lifetime savings in a boat crossing risking life and limb in search of a better future in an over- crowded bit of rock with very limited resources like Malta when they can go to Italy. France, Germany , the UK etc? Give them a valid passport or these new rights and they will disappear from our shores before one can say " Kumbaya" and good luck to them.
Ms D Galea
Apr 13th 2011, 23:14
I am quite sure that this is great news for the vast majority of irregulars from the Sub Saharan region who are stuck here wether they like it or not. With this new directive they will be able to move freely on to mainland Europe without the risk of arrest and being sent back where they do not want to remain....in Malta!
Mr Peter Korsten
Apr 14th 2011, 20:15
It's also an incentive to come here, stay for five years, and move on. I can see why the Maltese government opposed this.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Apr 13th 2011, 22:10
@ Ms. B Cassar,
The Vatican wants this invasion of secular europe as part of their counter reformation plan as pursuant of the council of Trent. Corporations want it to bring down the price of labour and both want it to destroy the nation state, as they see it as an outdated concept in a Globalized world.
These invasions will cause chaos in europe and resentment by europeans who will opt for a fascist government system so beloved of church and corporations.These two work by the concept of problem, reaction, solution..they have to create the problem so when we react they give us the ready made solution of their choosing and right now we are at their problem making phase.
Politicians of all stripes work for these two entities and help them usher in their project while placating and lulling the voting public with the charade of democracy and human rights and with empty talk. It does not matter what the public wants as they do not work for the public.
That is why there is no difference between political parties and the same policies are implemented in the western world regardless who you voted for.
As Mark Twain said, "if voting really mattered we would not be allowed to do it."
Mr Malcolm Seychell
Apr 13th 2011, 19:48
~Get over it. GonziPN and PL voted for the Lisbon treaty.
I and many others told you before this treaty was signed
Issa hu gost gahan
Robert Caruana
Apr 13th 2011, 16:28
I recall that prior to the EU referendum we were given many assurances that EU membership would not result in Malta losing its sovreignty. However events are clearly indicating that this is not the case.
Ms B Cassar
Apr 13th 2011, 15:11
Next in line with these types of decisions, will be removing the crucifix, removing village festas and all others. Because soon there will be the usual : "I am offended by this and that". Good luck Malta
Corinne Vella
Apr 14th 2011, 15:19
The alternative to rescuing those immigrants was to let them drown. There is no third alternative.
Ms Louise Vella
Apr 13th 2011, 15:01
"Malta strongly objected". But who takes Malta seriously if its Prime Minister is proud of having taken another 116 or 170 or whatever number of illegal immigrants? If a country's Prime Minister is perceived by others as not defending his country's national interest, then his counterparts will not take him seriously. Now Malta has made a declaration which sounds more like a solitary whine in a corner. Of course nobody will take any notice of it. In the meantime we'll have to treat illegal immigrants in theory as well as ourselves, and in practice better because they have privileges we do not have in our own country.
Ms B Cassar
Apr 13th 2011, 14:49
As soon as I read this article I really felt threatened. Yes threatened, in my home country. Why? Because I can't understand how a person coming from any side of the world can be given rights as citizens of that country when they have entered the country ILLEGALLY. Do these funny people coming up with these stupid ideas want to insult us that much? For me is far from believable. So now I can go to America (because that's one of my dreams) claim I'm coming from wherever I want, without documentation and be given a million rights and applause for breaking the laws - aaaahhh that's USA not this ridiculous EU they have dragged us in. Things to obtain citizenship and all benefits of citizens are more serious there.....
Some examples of what illegal immigration brings:
Has anyone watched the news on Rai yesterday? Has anyone seen the violence that exploded against authorities in Italy by Tunisians because Italy is repatriating them? Did you see the smoke coming out of the building where they have been placed and given shelter??? Come on what do these expect? To land wherever they want and do whatever they want? People are protesting against illegal immigrants (in our case coming from Africa) not because of racism but because they fear that the different cultures will bring more criminality. I am not labelling them criminals but I am saying that the cultures are different. Every one knows that especially in Africa all they know about is violent environments, so how do you expect them to react?? They want democracy, yes it's true, but at the end of the day many illegal immigrants do not accept critics, people who do not agree with their views etc. I'm speaking from personal work experience.
I am very sad with what the EU is doing. Basically the EU is pushing us, europeans who have fought for our countries so much, to leave our home to an extension of Africa and any other country that decides to invade somewhere else. We are forced to leave behind the blood shed of our fathers to incorporate other cultures. They are pushing down our throats multiculturalism whether we want it or not, even if in the majority of countries it has failed. Haven't we the choice to decide who comes in our home or not? How come that no one of the EU (including Gonzi) is hearing what we want? Aren't politicians put on that chair to do what the people want? Can't believe this in 2011. Instead of going onwards we are going backwards. Manuel Dimech probably is turning in his grave. We pushed out colonies in the 1979 to end up in this way - under a dictatorship named EU. Some people are prepared to do everything under the excuse of destroying racism. Few understand that racism and defending the country's identity are two complete different things - probably these peopledon't want to know the truth.
Ms jeneba caruana
Apr 13th 2011, 14:37
wowww this was a great news!! this is the europe i want to see!! proud of this decision!! Rights to everybody...No to Fortress Europe!!
Louis Gialanze
Apr 13th 2011, 14:23
I am not at all surprised considering that in 2005 the authorities of the day, through a white paper quoted in Wikipidea, proposed granting citizenship to migrants after a stay of 10 years. Appeasement is the order of the day ever since we sold our hard earned Independenza & Helsien to Brussels.
Ms B Cassar
Apr 13th 2011, 15:16
Are you real? Are you serious? Go and do a research of our history. Whatever our fathers have fought for in the past, is being destroyed by EU because maltese like you decided to sell their country for peanuts.
Ms B Cassar
Apr 13th 2011, 15:30
This comment was intended to reply to Ms. Jeneba Caruana
Mr Nil Melius
Apr 13th 2011, 13:22
Doesn’t such legislation directly and indirectly encourage the further influx of illegal immigrants to EU shores, knowing that by risking in landing on EU shores, one can be eventually rewarded?
Why is it that some in the EU are in favour of multi-culturalism when most of the EU countries are realising the negative effects of such mingling of diverse and extreme cultures could cause to their countries?
Recently, both Angela Merkel and David Cameron declared that “multi-culturalism has failed”!
So why do we persist to err, when we know that to err is human but to persist is diabolical?
Ms B Cassar
Apr 13th 2011, 15:02
This is a clear invitation to africans to cross over. Is all Africa being invited to Europe? Come on. I really can't understand what's this obsession to want africans by force and by all means. Can't understand it what's the point of it. I think EU should help Africa to regenerate itself especially Italy, France and Spain who have exploited this continent in the past years and not invite a biblical illegal immigration.
Now they are being re-settled in EU - one good reason to leave Africa as you are given money and settlement free of charge at the expense of the stupid tax payer
In the future - they will be given free education and social benefits too - again at the expense of the stupid tax payer who has been investing in this country his whole life to pay someone else' bills. That's too much for being fair dear EU.
The benefits of EU??? Niente, nisba, nada - NOTHING
ONLY BURDENS AND PROBLEMS FOR THE TAX PAYER WHILE LAW BREAKERS CARRY ON WITH THE PARTY. Very good indeed!
Dianne Galea
Apr 13th 2011, 12:58
Who ever thinks this is fair should put his hand up first! Since the signing of the Lisbon Treaty the govt knew this was going to happen but they kept their mouths shut because they knew the people would raise against them .Their only viable solution now is to tell the people the truth and if they want to opt out of the E.U and it's regulations so be it! After all calling the people racists when at the end of the day the Maltese tax payer is giving these illegal immigrants their daily bread is quite unfair! Giving them Maltese citizenship with all the rights of those born in the country is something else. Malta will never be the same. So much for Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox!!!!
Mr Tony Spiteri
Apr 14th 2011, 15:27
Yes sir I agree
Once this legislation becomes law, and or is forced on those EU countries that refuse to agree with it, we can look forward to more illegal/irregular immigrants from Africa. They will know by word of mouth/text message etc that once they arrive in Malta, they only have to stay here for 5 years living off the good will of the tax payers of this tiny country, before they can continue on with their travels to their intended destinations within main land Europe.
This will turn Malta into nothing more than a holding center or transit camp for these immigrants, which I strongly believe, regardless of the recent actions of our Italian neighbors is exactly what some mainland EU countries think Malta's role should be when it comes to illegal immigration into Europe.
Mr Charles Cremona
Apr 13th 2011, 12:55
Very shortly these people will have more rights then the Maltese. If they are given these rights many more are going to come here because they know that after a short period of time they can then live anywhere in the EU, so Malta will become a transit place for them. I don,t know who is coming out with these stupid ideas in Brussels but they are not doing Malta any favours.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Apr 13th 2011, 10:20
so according to the EU, it is quite right and natural to enter any country ILLEGALLY, but it is wrong and Illegal to put the crucifix in public places or for our natural pastimes. It is ok to break any country's laws but it is not wrong to break the laws of that particular country. Not only but the EU wants to remove centuries old traditions and ways of life of that particular EU country. For us this is absurd (denuding africa of its own people and burdening them on european countries to the detriment of their own citizens who are already living it hard).
Mr john vella
Apr 13th 2011, 11:02
Yes this is not the European Union we voted for. At that time we were told it will not happen that E.U. members will be taking our jobs. Now it looks any one outside the EU can come in ILLEGAL be he African, Arab, Chinese, Asian, Indian and the list goes on and on. We in Zebbug have a saying: 'Viva San Filip lax-Xitan irid Hekk!'