Martin Schulz, the European Socialists’ candidate for President of the European Commission, yesterday stressed the humanitarian aspect of migration, saying Europe could not turn its back on people fleeing problems in their own countries.
“Every single life lost off our shores, man, woman or child, is a stain on our civilisation. We should act together in a spirit of loyalty and solidarity, with a fair sharing of responsibility among all 28 member states.
“I believe in an orderly, rule-based approach to migration which does everything it can to avoid driving desperate people into the hands of criminals,” he said.
Addressing a Labour activity in Paola, Mr Schulz, who is the President of the European Parliament, said those who speak against Europe having a system of legal migration “enable criminals to continue exploiting desperate people”.
I believe in an orderly, rule-based approach to migration
“Some want us to shed crocodile tears, hoping that migration will go away, while others want to turn back the clock and renounce our international obligations.
“Those arriving on our shores must find a place. Closing borders is not the answer for people fleeing persecution and war,” he said, in a clear message against any pushback policy. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had threatened to push back people arriving in Malta unless the EU helped Malta deal with the phenomenon.
Addressing his listeners as “comrades”, Mr Schulz recalled the tragedy off Lampedusa last year. “We cannot remain passive and watch people die. I want to make Lampedusa a turning point in EU migration policy.
“Turning our backs on countries that need help is tempting but I will not accept this attitude,” he promised.
Ship masters, he said, should not fear prosecution if they stopped to carry out their human duty and save people. They should be honoured not punished.
He spoke about prevention, fighting the causes of migration at source with more collaboration with countries such as Libya. “When people find a job, food and dignity, they would want to stay at home,” he said.
Mr Schulz said that legal migration did not mean that everybody would be able to relocate to Europe.
“I am in favour of an orderly and controlled legal migration system with a rule-based approach. Every country must accept its fair share of migrants. Behind illegal migration are criminal gangs,” he said.
He promised to back Malta, saying no country should be left alone to deal with the influx of migrants.
“This is a European problem not a Maltese, Italian, Greek or Bulgarian problem.”
Addressing the well-attended activity, Dr Muscat appealed to those who wanted to see Malta’s efforts to deal with migration to vote Labour and elect his “good friend” as European Commission President. According to the Lisbon Treaty the European Parliament elections are to have bearing on the choice of President of the EU executive.
He said he found it ironic how the EU had policies on practically everything, even the size of oranges and other things which are “irrelevant to our lives” but then lacked a common policy on migration.
“Today we heard what we have been yearning for years. If he [Mr Schulz] is elected President, we will have a common policy and legal ways for migration. Now is your chance to change things around. If you want a Europe that acts, the choice is to vote for all the Labour candidates,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing a joint press conference earlier, Mr Schulz did not reply to a question from The Sunday Times of Malta on whether he agreed with Labour’s decision to target achieving the majority of votes while seemingly accepting losing the majority of seats in the European Parliament.
“All Socialist parties would be very happy to be in situation of Malta’s Labour Party. We will win election in Malta and then we will enjoy sufficient number of seats to make me President,” he said.