EU states failing on irregular migrants

EU member states are failing to cooperate with Malta to help address the problem of irregular immigration, MEP Joseph Cuschieri told University students yesterday.

“We have realised that voluntary agreements regarding irregular immigration are ineffectual. They need to be imposed”.

He said there was a crucial difference between refugees who fled their country because of persecution and those who merely sought new opportunities.

“Unfortunately, we get little cooperation from the other member states. In effect, the US has expressed more solidarity than the EU,” Mr Cuschieri said.

Together with recently-elected MEP Roberta Metsola, he answered questions relating to youth programmes, bureaucracy and work opportunities posed by students.

Dr Metsola admitted that a degree of bureaucracy still pervaded the exercise of the right of free movement within the EU.

The two MEPs outlined the responsibilities their job entailed and highlighted a number of opportunities available for young people.

Dr Metsola said she was serving on the maximum number of committees each MEP was allowed because “Malta can’t afford to leave gaps in any policy”.

She added that, on May 29, MEPs would be voting on the Professional Qualifications Directive, which would enable people with University degrees and diplomas to enjoy full recognition across all 27 member states.

Dr Metsola spoke of strengthening the small Eures (European Employment Services) department within the Employment Training Corporation and Your First Eures Job, an action to help young Europeans find work in other EU countries.

The event, Meet Your MEPs, was organised by the University Students’ Council in conjunction with the European Parliament Office in Malta and was chaired by journalist Keith Demicoli.