The Lampedusa tragedy was a tragedy waiting to happen. Human persons in need of help have been on our doorstep, Europe’s doorstep. The help they sought was not available.
Malta has a government which belongs to that family of political parties, the socialist family, that describes itself as being the champion of the vulnerable and the downtrodden. In migration policy, in just seven months, the Labour Party-led government in Malta has failed miserably in living up to its core values.
At this point in time, none are more vulnerable than migrants fleeing persecution, in particular, Somalis and Eritreans who account for the vast majority of migrants at this doorstep of Europe.
The Labour Party in government is not interested in their plight. It is more interested in a populist discourse to impress its hangers-on. Labour’s populism has diluted its core values beyond recognition.
In migration policy, our government has failed miserably in its core values
Labour’s push-back policy was not implemented due to the timely intervention of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Those who think that Joseph Muscat’s push-back policy was an exercise in bluff would do well to remember that, when still Leader of the Opposition, Muscat had made statements on the need to suspend Malta’s international obligations if faced with large numbers of boat people.
Many crocodile tears are being shed by those who in the past weeks advocated a hardline inhumane attitude. Those who advocated push-backs are apparently shocked by what has happened.
Are they?
When we criticise the European Union for tackling immigration inappropriately we are also criticising ourselves because, since May 2004, Malta and the Maltese are an integral part of the European Union. Malta forms part of each and every decision-taking structure within the European Union. Together with all the other member states, Malta participates whenever a decision is taken. The European Union needs a common migration policy which recognises that each and every refugee within its borders is its responsibility. Border states like Malta, Italy, Spain, Greece and Cyprus are shouldering a disproportionate responsibility that must be shared by all members states.
So far, in the struggle between life and death, the European Union (Malta included) has not opted to give adequate assistance to the living. As a result, we are collectively responsible for the Lampedusa deaths.
It is useless shedding tears for the dead if we did not respect them when they were still alive.
The Lampedusa tragedy was no accident. It is the direct consequence of the fact that, on migration, there is still a free for all in the European Union. A common policy is required to give flesh to practical solidarity and bury once and for all the culture of indifference.
The Greens in Europe are all in favour of responsibility sharing, that is, the recognition by European Union institutions that once a migrant crosses its borders he is its responsibility. Common borders are not just a tool for the payment of Customs duties. A humanitarian migration policy is a must in every corner of the European Union. Crossing the border into the European Union should mean moving into an area that respects every human person, with no exceptions being permitted.
A first step would be amending what is known as the Dublin Convention such that the arrival of a migrant within any of the member states would not signify any more that he is restricted to remain in the country of arrival. Such an amendment to the Dublin Convention would facilitate the movement of migrants within the European Union and, consequently, their applying for refugee status, if this is applicable, within any one of the member states.
This is the official policy of the European Green Party to which policy Alternattiva Demokratika has contributed considerably through constructive engagement with our European partners.
The Greens in Europe are the only European political party that has fully appreciated the situation which European Union border states are facing. Without any stamping of feet or smelling ‘push-over’ coffee, the European Green Party is the foremost proposer and supporter of an EU which shoulders its responsibilities through a policy of migration responsibility sharing. The others just stamp their feet and indulge in inconsequential rhetoric interspaced with crocodile tears.
It is about time that the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party accept that their approach to migration has failed. They should take a leaf from the policy book of the European Greens and seek to convince their partners in the European Union of the need to share responsibility for migration with the border states.
Whether the Lampedusa tragedy will serve as a wake-up call is still to be seen.
The comments from Josè Manuel Barroso and Cecilia Malmström at Lampedusa on Wednesday are good indications.
Well, Muscat can smell that coffee now.
cacopardocarm@euroweb.net.mt
http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com
Carmel Cacopardo is the deputy chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green party.