The proposal to give a temporary visa to Libyan businessmen unashamedly ridicules the desperate plight of the refugees losing their lives at sea, according to human rights NGO Aditus.

The proposal, it continued, flew in the face of EU-wide calls for safe and legal access to protection for refugees.

“Together with Malta’s Individual Investor Programme, this is yet another message Malta is choosing to send to the world: ‘If you are a rich migrant, the red carpet will be rolled out, but if you’re a refugee, it’s either Italy or detention’,” Aditus said.

In principle, the NGO has no objection to the scheme, which could have clear advantages for the Maltese and Libyan economies, and potentially improve the lives of individuals and communities. The scheme could also represent a legal and safe way for some refugees to access Malta’s asylum procedure.

A floundering boat becomes a very expensive visa, with little guarantee of safe arrival

However, while the government discusses and implements the scheme, the NGO continues to receive urgent requests for assistance from Libyans, Syrians and other people who have to leave their countries due to wars and persecution but are unable either to move on or to return home.

The refusal of Malta’s and other EU member states’ embassies and representations to grant humanitarian visas to such refugees remains one of the key factors pushing them on to boats to attempt to cross the Mediterranean, Aditus noted.

“When we’re asked which embassy will give their family a visa to reach safety, we know there is very little we can say or do.

“It’s terrible, because we know what usually happens next: a floundering boat packed with men, women and children becomes a very expensive visa, with little guarantee of safe arrival,” Aditus director Neil Falzon said.

The NGO urged the Maltese authorities to consider translating the logic behind the new temporary visa scheme into humanitarian action with a view to granting refugees safe and legal access to Malta.