A clear statement on compulsory burden-sharing in irregular migration and a commitment by all members is what the head of Labour’s delegation in the European Parliament is expecting from this week’s EU summit.
“There is no problem with burden sharing at European Parliament and (European) Commission levels.
“The problem is at governments’ level, at European Council level. Certain states, like the EU, continue to drag their feet.
I don’t think Europe is playing games with us
“I do believe that we can reach some sort of agreement and, no, I don’t think Europe is playing games with us.
“It is some member states that are refusing to accept that this is a European problem and that they are duty-bound to partake of the burden too and not leave countries like Malta and Italy do so on their own. That is what solidarity is all about,” Joseph Cuschieri said when interviewed at his office in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Mr Cuschieri feels, that in view of what happened over the past weeks and months, “and not necessarily because of the stand taken by the Maltese government but, especially, in view of the tragedies that have occurred, there will finally be those who will decide to budge. In fact, one can already sense some movement”.
He admits that although he is optimistic there will be some sort of a solution emerging from the December summit, “one can never be sure that the outcome will be satisfactory to Malta although I do believe that the government will take a very tough stand”.
Mr Cuschieri said that one expected the government to stand firm so that what Malta had been insisting on for a long time – that the burden was equally shared according to what each country in the EU could sustain – would happen.
“When we speak of burden sharing we are not saying that it is only a matter of sharing in hosting the migrants but also that all the burden is carried collectively: rescue, Frontex, the costs of all operations including if the EU decides to launch an operation in the coast of North Africa, such as in Libya,” he pointed out.
Mr Cuschieri also referred to “those who are using the problem of irregular migration for other ends and I am not referring to the criminals behind this human tragedy. I am speaking about governments. It may also be European governments.”
He explained that Malta was responsible for a large search and rescue area covering a vast stretch of sea. The island had no interest in letting go of this vast area and this for various reasons, including natural resources.
“It does not necessarily mean these fall within Maltese territory but the issue of natural resources is certainly there.
“There are fears that countries are trying to crucify or bring countries like Malta to their knees so that they will let go of part of this SAR and take it over themselves,” Mr Cuschieri said.-