EU foreign ministers have taken steps to launch a military campaign in Libya to eliminate human trafficking into Europe. This military adventure will further destabilise Libya without helping the refugees and breach the Maltese constitutional neutrality.

We Maltese experience the ever-increasing loss of innocent human life in the Mediterranean first hand. We encounter the refugee crisis every day and we want a solution.

In the past the preference of decision makers in Paris, London and Berlin was to kick the can down the road by holding a well-staged photo opportunity at which the dignitaries would express their shock at the loss of life and pledge immediate action and humanitarian aid only to forget about the issue once the cameras have been turned off.

This time it is different. This time the EU actually wants to do something, but their solution requires that we breach our Constitution.

Federica Mongering, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has pledged to obtain a UN Security Council resolution allowing the use of force and she has made clear that the EU will mount a military mission even in the absence of such a resolution.

All EU states, including Malta, have agreed to the plans for what the EU itself calls a “military campaign”. Despite the good intentions, this “campaign against smugglers” is destined for failure.

Libya is a country three times the size of the UK, so monitoring the movements of all vessels (legitimate or otherwise) leaving and entering Libyan waters will be hard. Entering Libyan harbours and scouring the coastline with special forces to destroy rickety boats will be very difficult.

Can we ask of a second lieutenant to determine, in hostile territory and at night, if a boat is to be used for human trafficking or is owned by a fisherman to feed his family and village? Once the boat sets off for Europe, air strikes are out of the question.

Having the navies board the boats and return the migrants to Libya against their will, and the will of the Libyan government (in breach of immigration laws) would be a hostile act.

Can we ask of a second lieutenant to determine, in hostile territory and at night, if a boat is to be used for human trafficking or is owned by a fisherman to feed his family and village?

Furthermore, it would not prevent the refugees from again risking their lives to escape from total desperation.

The Libyan governments have not been consulted by the EU. One of the issues on which both Libyan governments agree is that they do not want any military intervention by the EU. An invasion of Libya by European military units would be an act of war. The Libyans have stated that they are prepared to fight such an incursion.

European ‘boots on the ground’ would also give terrorist groups a legitimate excuse to ‘fight the crusaders illegally entering Muslim territory’. Naturally, it will all of course spill into mainland Europe – and the nearest EU country and perfect soft target is Malta.

The Constitution states that Malta is a neutral state actively pursuing peace, security and social progress among all nations by adhering to a policy of non-alignment and refusing to participate in any military alliance. The planned mission can only take place in breach of the Maltese Constitution and will only further destabilise the region and increase the misery of the migrants.

Malta enjoys a derogation with regard to military cooperation in order to preserve and protect our neutrality. Malta cannot take part in military adventures and other states cannot use Maltese land, territorial waters or airspace to facilitate a military campaign.

When the government agreed to and participated in the planning of such a campaign, its actions breached the Constitution and were invalid and illegal.

To make matters worse, our Parliament has not been given a proper chance to debate the matter.

In January the Tripoli government formally requested that the Maltese government host peace negotiations to be held under the auspices of the UN. The Constitution obliges Malta to work actively for peace and the government ignored this request.

Combining the refusal to assist in the peace negotiations with the active illegal participation in the planning of a military campaign must be the most shameful behaviour of a Maltese government in a long time.

The only real and long-term viable solution to the refugee crisis is to engage with both Libyan governments and support the peace negotiations with the aim of assisting in the creation of a stable Libyan government with which we can negotiate regarding actions to reduce human trafficking.

This government must be asked why it is provoking war and instability rather than working towards peace in Libya and stability and security for Malta.