Matthew Xuereb
PM expects action from Van Rompuy
The Prime Minister expects the President of the European Council to send a message to all other member states that Malta is small and cannot deal with the influx of immigrants on its own.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the arrival of 1,000 migrants in a few days may be insignificant for other member states but was a hefty number for a small island state like Malta.
Asked about his meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy on Wednesday and what Malta expected of Europe, Dr Gonzi said Malta wanted Europe to show its solidarity in a concrete manner.
“I told Mr Van Rompuy that he, as President of the European Council, was duty bound to get the message across to other member states that Malta’s situation is different and it needs all the help it can get,” Dr Gonzi said. Following his talks with Dr Gonzi, Mr Van Rompuy said Europe “should and can” do more to help Malta deal with the problem of mass immigration.
“Europe has already done a lot for Malta but a lot still has to be done,” Dr Gonzi said yesterday when asked to elaborate on Mr Van Rompuy’s statement.
“The extension of the (resettlement) pilot project because Malta’s situation is different to that of other countries, and the fact that member states are being urged to take migrants from Malta, are already strong messages from Europe. There has been positive news from Germany and I hope other countries will follow suit. But this is not enough.”
He said the situation in Libya was very unstable and if it remained unchanged, Malta would need the help of the EU “more than ever before”.
“Malta will continue lobbying for more solidarity from other European member states as well as ensure that Europe is closer to us in a concrete manner. In the meantime, Malta will continue performing its humanitarian duties by rescuing people in difficulty,” he said.
Mr Van Rompuy’s declaration came in the same week that EU member states rejected Malta’s request for the activation of an emergency burden-sharing mechanism to help it deal with an influx of migrants fleeing Libya. However, it has extended a 2008 pilot project under which member states could offer to resettle some migrants from Malta in their own territories.
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Mr Charles.C. Brown
Apr 16th 2011, 13:17
The PM cannot do much on his own unless the all the maltese including the opposition starts peaceful protests to show the EU that the people of malta are sick of their attitide towards us. Comments in the timesand moaning about emmigration are not going to get you anywhere. the nation must show that they are behind the PM if they want something to be done about this issue. Do it in the way they do it PROTEST!
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Apr 16th 2011, 12:16
Unless all the maltese people {and that includes the opposition) start peaceful protests and back the PM to show europe that island cannot take anymore of this hanky panky nothing will ever come out of this problem. Its got to be the people and not the PM alone even though he represent the nation. comments on the times are not going to lead us anywhere. This is a national problem and we cannot let the EU ignore this issue or decide for us.
Mr John Azzopoardi
Apr 15th 2011, 22:12
Stop the begging and start acting. Europe is not going to do anything for us, but they don't want those illegal migrants. They have their own problems and ghettos. Look at France, the Netherlands, Germany, etc.
Mr Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina
Apr 15th 2011, 19:03
@Sur Mario Ġellel:Mela pajjiż jitmexxa kif taħseb int Sur Ġellel!
Illum anke każin tal-banda jitmexxa b’medodi u sistemi li inti l-anqas biss mid dehra tiegħek kapaċi toħlomom, aħseb u ara l-gvern modern kapaċismu Malti tallum immexxi b’għerf kbir u kapaċita mill-Prim Ministru Lawrence Gonzi!
Prosit Sur Prim Ministru, qed tgħamlilna unur kbir, saħansitra popli ta’ pajjiżi kbar ġirien tagħna bħall l-Italia u madwar id-dinja jgħiru għall kapaċita diplomatika tagħna li kapċi toffri d-diplomazija proffesjonali tal-gvern Malti immexxija minnek!
Grazzi Sur-Prim Ministru li lili u lill kull Malti u Għawdxi qed tagħmlilna l-akbar unur li nistgħu niftaħru quddiem kull-ċittadin ieħor ta’ kwalunkwe pajjiż fid-dinja li aħna ċittadini kburin li aħna Maltin Ewropew Sovrani!
Charles Sammut
Apr 15th 2011, 16:22
It is not going to happen. First of all van Rompuy does not represent anybody and cannot dictate anything. Secondly, the much vaunted Schengen treaty is crumbling. This infamous treaty was supposed to remove internal borders and reinforce external ones. The exact opposite has happened. Internal border controls have been reintroduced while the EU's external borders are a free for all. The only requirement is that you demand asylum as soon as you set foot on EU soil.
Ms Louise Vella
Apr 15th 2011, 14:54
Dr Gonzi should have told van Rompuy what he likes to tell the Maltese public. That Malta because of its Christian values will continue to bring in all those who are, or pretend to be, in distress and this without any limitation on numbers. The more the merrier. That all those Maltese (and there are quite a few!) who object to seeing an unending influx of illegal immigrants are racists and xenophobes. That the real or imagined rights of illegal immigrants come before Malta's national interests, because this is what we have been taught.
Charles Sammut
Apr 15th 2011, 16:18
@ Adriano Spiteri
Gonzi is not torn between religion and politics. His politics are ruled by his religion. I would go as far as to hazard a guess that should the 'Yes' vote win in the divorce referendum, Gonzi will call an election because he will not risk having divorce legislation introduced during his watch thus jeopardising his reservation in paradise.
Adriano Spiteri
Apr 15th 2011, 14:29
Our PM, torn between Religious values and Poltics, decided against turning illegal immigrants back.
This led to a huge influx of illegal immigrants which the Maltese taxpayer is making good for.
Now the PM has the gall to ask EU member states for support.
Joseph Muscat's Italy praise proves that we have two Socialist parties - PN LP, with the latter being more interested in the country and our interests. This also reveals that ultimately Dr Gonzi is more inclined to act in sync with his personal and/or religious values. His stand on divorce confirms this.
In a few words Dr.Gonzi allowed immigration to turn from a problem to a pain and subsequently into a crisis. Now, just like Mr Simon Busuttil, he is asking member states to share the burden: something already coined as a 'joke'.
We first need to stop the burden by refusing to let more illegal immigrants in. Secondly we (Malta) need to start a repatriation programme and send them back to an African country. They would be able to travel freely to any other African country.
But we all know that such a stand cannot be taken by this kind of 'Nationalist' PM who's torn between Religious values and Politics.
I personally believe that Dr Gonzi and his marionette party will suffer the most humiliating electoral defeat in our electoral history. It would be a merited one. Malta needs a truly Nationalist party. Presently the PN is only Nationalist in name.
And here we go: Member States, attention please...our PM's begging.
Mr Joseph Brincat
Apr 15th 2011, 13:53
Wishful thinking!
Mr john vella
Apr 15th 2011, 13:28
Sorry guys! but I can not forget those famous words 'We need to explain more'. The Sunday Times 23 January 2011. This is the way to go Prim do not answer the reports and as usual explain to us with no one to question.
Please wake me up on Election Day. Of course not this one as either way I do not care.
Mr Anthony Mizzi
Apr 15th 2011, 13:25
and the People expect action from PM Gonzi and burden sharing expects action from Van Rompuy...not on volontary basis!
The migrants / refugees are coming in and will be coming in in floods ...and without having to fillin forms with their CVs like the countries taking some in are requesting them to do!
Action Please Dr. Gonzi....min jistenna jiterra, kif qieghed jiterra il-Pajjiz!
Mr Simon Ciantar
Apr 15th 2011, 12:29
Yes indeed why where no questions allowed ? Why this fear of the EU ? What on earth has the EU done on this Issue ofr us so Far ??!! Why must we always tune down our frustration ? Why cant we be forcefull like Italy?
Mr mario gellel
Apr 15th 2011, 11:57
L-EWWEL MA HALLEJT L-EBDA GURNALIST ISAQSIKHOM MISTOQSIJA WAHDA TA KIF QED IHHOSSU IL-POPLU MALTI FUQ DIN IL-KARNIVALEZZA GHAX KONT TAF LI HA TAQLA CAMATA. U ISSA TAGHMEL TAPARSI SQARRIJJA LI M'NALLA KONT INT.
PERO SUR GONZI, MA GHADNIEX NIEHDUHA IL-GAZAZA.
Mr carlos ellul
Apr 15th 2011, 10:51
“Europe has already done a lot for Malta but a lot still has to be done,” Dr Gonzi said
Of course they did. They first made sure that we signed the Dublin 2 treaty which literally forces immigrants to stay here and then they took less then 300 immigrants in 3 years. Small things amuse....
Godfrey Camilleri
Apr 15th 2011, 10:35
We have been hearing many many times that we want solidarity. Wouldn't it be better if we just spell out clearly what we want and then see whether this can be obtained from those several countries that already accepted that they are ready to support us? We are like a small mouse near a big elephant stamping our feet that we want help without saying what help we want and without asking specifically those other animals who are saying they are ready to help.
Jj Zammit
Apr 15th 2011, 10:29
if they really wants to help,i belive they should do it soon,we are always the first to help,and when we need help nobody knows us,and talks doesn´t help,i am more for facts.