The arrival of terrorist organisation Islamic State in Libya is of deep concern. The horrific murder of 21 Egyptians shows that barbaric extremists are now in effective control of cities a few hundred miles away from Malta, and therefore the European Union.
We should not be alarmist, but neither should we take it lightly. We did not invite this confrontation with terror but the situation in Libya means that Malta is being thrust reluctantly into the middle of a global geo-political volcano. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option.
This is not a time for petty politics. The challenge we are facing is too great for Malta to squabble while the Mediterranean bleeds. The Nationalist Party is ready to help the government in any way it can. We will always seek consensus in the national interest.
Our position on how the situation could be handled is clear. As Simon Busuttil has underlined, the PN wholeheartedly supports an immediate United Nations-led peacekeeping force in Libya to ensure the situation on the ground improves. The government has also signalled its support for such a mission. Any such operation would be a good step in the right direction.
Where our approach diverges somewhat is on the government’s refusal to join the global anti-IS coalition. The PN has underlined that the situation is so volatile that Malta cannot go it alone. We are too close to risk being seen as vulnerable without strong allies. Malta is now the only EU member state to refuse to join the global coalition.
Lest we be misunderstood, we are not talking about any military contribution. We are talking about political, logistical and humanitarian support that will send the signal that we are not alone; that we are backed by 62 other countries; that we stand for something. Malta’s strength will come from our global partnership and the comfort of knowing that we form part of a strong alliance.
We showed the world what we can do three years ago, and we must prepare to be called upon to do the same again
Some have said that Malta’s neutrality clause prevents our participation. It does not. In the words of former European Court of Human Rights Judge Giovanni Bonello: “It is by not fighting international terrorism that Malta would be in breach of the constitution”.
It was Winston Churchill who said that one cannot be “impartial between the fire brigade and the fire”. He was right. Being neutral does not mean that Malta should be silent in the fight against terror.
The EU too must play its part. The rise of IS in Libya means that human trafficking operations will continue to expand and thousands more migrants will flee in any way they can.
The EU has time and again failed to come up with a coherent plan to deal with migrant influxes in the Mediterranean. The end of Italy’s Mare Nostrum and the lack of capacity for Frontex has meant that the Mediterranean is now largely unpatrolled. It is an urgent situation.
The EU does, however, fund assets for anti-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia and has dedicated millions of euros for it. What we are calling for is that, seeing the reduced threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, these assets should be re-deployed to the Mediterranean to save lives, boost security and back up Frontex’s border control operations.
We need to think outside the box on this, and I hope that the government will take up the call and try to convince its partners too. We need a united approach on this if we are to be successful.
The situation is evolving fast. The government should immediately draw up plans for Malta to return to its role as a humanitarian hub as we did so successfully in the immediate aftermath of the overthrow of Gaddafi.
We showed the world what we can do three years ago, and we must prepare to be called upon to do the same again.
Our capacity to meet every challenge thrown at us is what has defined the Maltese as a people throughout our history. It is what can define us as one nation again now.
This is a time for bold leadership. We cannot come up short.
Roberta Metsola is PN shadow minister for EU and foreign affairs.
Tonio Fenech is PN spokesman for foreign affairs.