Malta and Italy to work together over migrants
Agreement between countries expected to be signed today
The commission aims to establish which country is responsible for migrants rescued at sea. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A commission expected to be set up today will seek a solution to the long-standing disputes between Malta and Italy over the rescue of migrants at sea.
An agreement, meant to be signed today between Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Giulio Terzi and his counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, will see the setting up of a mixed commission based on the same lines Malta has with Tunisia and Libya, sources said.
The commission will be tasked with holding high-level technical discussions over pending issues between the two countries, chiefly the rescue of migrants in distress and oil exploration, which have eluded solutions for years.
The technical talks will bring military teams from both countries around the table to chart a working plan of who should take action when vessels are in distress in specific areas at sea and where survivors should be taken after rescue.
Malta has long argued that rescued migrants should go to the closest safe port, in line with international law.
It stressed that it was only required to “coordinate” rescue operation in its search and rescue area – which stretches roughly from Tunisia to Greece – and not carry out the rescue itself.
However, the Italian side has accused Malta of reneging on its responsibilities and even suggested the Government give up part of the rescue area; a significant source of revenue for the country.
The result has been a series of high-profile diplomatic disputes over the years, which at times left migrants stranded on stricken vessels while Rome and Valletta argued over who was responsible for their rescue.
In one such stand-off in 2009, the European Commission stepped in to mediate between then Italian and Maltese home affairs ministers, Roberto Maroni and Carm Mifsud Bonnici.
Malta-Italy agreement
Writing in The Times today (see back page), Mr Terzi said Italy and Malta had a responsibility to explore ways of doing more to meet the challenges that faced both countries.
“Our discussions will be focused on bilateral issues, namely those resulting from the absence of agreed boundaries between us, such as rescue at sea or the continental slope,” he writes in his article.
“We have no solutions yet. Those that were put on the table up to now have led us nowhere. However, both sides are ready to understand, listen and together explore ways forward”.
The other sticking point, oil exploration, has been an area of disagreement for decades with Malta claiming offshore drilling rights in areas the Italians claim are their own.
Malta faces similar disputes with Tunisia and Libya.
• Eighty migrants were expected in at Haywharf on an AFM patrol boat last night after their dinghy started taking in water 16 miles south of Malta.
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19 Comments
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Charles Grixti
Sep 12th 2012, 19:25
Brilliant! Since joining the EU we are stuck with third country problems instead of taking care of our own people. Malta - the saviour of the third world!
Charles Cremona
Sep 12th 2012, 19:16
I have heard that before, I believe it when I see it.
Kurt Waschnig
Sep 12th 2012, 18:09
If an agreement is signed today it should consider what can be done to help and to support migrants to enable them a life in dignity and to build up a future without desperation and fear for their lives.
That is decisive and that counts.
Innocent and poor migrants need help in every form.
John Azzopoardi
Sep 13th 2012, 23:38
take them to Germany which is very rich. Malta is too small for them. But you probably are happy they are here in Malta instead of Germany or some other northern european country where you want to maintain a pure european race. Maltese to germans are probably considered dark as well. Right Mr. Wasching
E. Azzopardi
Sep 12th 2012, 16:47
Better late than later, I suppose!!
Michael Mercieca
Sep 12th 2012, 16:23
Bla bla bla bla and more bla bla bla. Only words and no action. The migrants keep coming and no one lifts a finger to help us.
Tony Camilleri
Sep 12th 2012, 14:12
Are the flights deporting the illegal immigrants going to stop here to pick them up?
kelly scicluna
Sep 12th 2012, 13:32
another 80 last night please tell me how many is that this month
Lawrence Fenech
Sep 12th 2012, 12:30
Iva, tnejn ghalina u wiehed ghalik, tnejn ghalina u wiehed ghalik.................................................
John Spiteri
Sep 12th 2012, 12:30
A pile of nonsense!
Joe Morana
Sep 12th 2012, 11:20
The only 'help' Malta ever got from Italy regarding illegal immigrants was the frequent request from the Rome Rescue Center to deploy AFM assets to recover illegal immigrants in distress! Human traffickers (or their Malta/Italy-based cronies) made available to all and sundry the phone numbers needed to call for help. Italy was always quick to remind Malta of its responsibilities when it came to mounting rescue missions and where to land illegal immigrants.
Italy does not want illegal immigrants, Malta does not want illegal immigrants, and neither does what remains of a crumbling and self-destructing European Union.
John Azzopoardi
Sep 12th 2012, 11:16
Europe and Italy must be very happy this year that our little overpupulated island of just 122 sq miles with 425,000 just got over 2500 this year alone and they got very little. Of course they want to talk. I say that once we save these people as is our moral duty, then that issue ends there. Start repatriation as soon as possible if Europe does not participate in the burden sharing concept. Each day we keep reading about Somalia getting more democratic. And the bulk the people that are coming by boths are illegal migrants. Didn't these somalis make a big fuss a few months ago that Eritrea was safe and Eritreans don't qualify for asylum. If we keep going this way, Malta will suffer dearly.
R. Cilia
Sep 12th 2012, 14:11
If we are not going to take to the streets and protest, nothing will be done!
Martin Formosa
Sep 12th 2012, 11:05
This is a big joke. Italy has a population density of 192 persons per square Km, and Malta has 1260 person per square Km, I think the odds are in the Italians favour not ours.
D. Xerri
Sep 12th 2012, 10:32
Malta and Italy to work together over migrants
...... oh well well well .... Good Morning - werent we supposed to be doing that from such a long long time ago :~)?
and what about the European Union both countries are Members of ? ....... werent it supposed to be doing that too from such a long long time ago too :~)?
....... sometimes I just think Im reading some news from like 10 years ago or something seeing such a title :~)
Martin Formosa
Sep 12th 2012, 10:30
Work together is not enough. Let's cut to the chase, are the Italians going to relieve us of some of the thousands already on our shores, yes or no? Otherwise all these meetings are just a waste of time.
Willie Grech
Sep 12th 2012, 10:43
@ Martin Formosa
"Otherwise all these meetings are just a waste of time." Or just another propoganda stance!! We are in election mode, remember?
Mauro debattista
Sep 12th 2012, 10:19
" we have no solution yet" so what was the purpose for this meeting?
Colin Stanley
Sep 12th 2012, 12:05
The purpose of this visit is,, as all other visits we had ,smiles, handshakes, bla,bla.etc and nothing else ever happens,from these meetings, and even the PL is just not giving us any solutions, who are we to vote for,?
Please choose the reason of your report below: