For many, Cecilia Malmström represents the EU’s lethargy in dealing with the phenomenon of irregular immigration across the Mediterranean Sea. Any visit of hers in Malta is bound to create “excitement”, as President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca put it yesterday. But this is not the excitement that comes from enthusiasm but the type caused by frustration at what many, including the political class, believe is the EU’s lack of solidarity with the smallest member state.
Ms Malmström’s comments on the first day of her visit that Malta received substantial EU funds to deal with migration did little to placate public discontent, fomented not least by a strong dose of xenophobia.
Her statement that she came here as “a friend of Malta” may not ring hollow though, because there is little the European Commission could do on immigration unless member states gave the go-ahead.
Without legal channels people will continue finding illegal ways to cross over
Brussels could be a more convenient political target than criticism of individual member states but the latest issue concerning sea patrols by Frontex, the EU border agency, highlights the crux of the problem.
As Italy threatens to withdraw its expensive Mare Nostrum operation – sea and air patrols over a wide stretch of the Mediterranean to save migrants – Frontex will have to rely on the generosity of member states for its assets. Ms Malmström has already said Frontex will not do what the Italians are doing and this has opened up the argument as to whether other member states were at all interested in saving lives.
Neil Falzon, from Aditus, a human rights group, believes it is too early to comment on the nature of the Frontex operation because the EU has not yet issued invitation letters to member states.
“It is unlikely but, for all we know, member states may provide enough assets to have a wide-ranging life-saving operation,” he said.
But while saving lives was important, maritime operations were not the long-term solution to the tragedies in the Mediterranean, Dr Falzon added.
The solution posited by organisations that work with migrants is legal channels for migrants to reach EU territory. Migrants would have a chance to gain humanitarian access that will prevent them from escaping war and persecution through riskier illegal routes.
Dr Falzon said member states were reluctant to go down this road.
“Without legal channels people will continue finding illegal ways to cross over, including catching boats that put their lives in great danger,” he said.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, was reluctant to comment on the Frontex operation because of the lack of detail.
“The issue of rescue at sea in the Mediterranean is of great concern to UNHCR. However, few details are available on the proposed Frontex Plus at the moment,” a spokesman said when asked about the risk of replacing the full-blown Italian mission with a half-baked measure.
But Ahmed Bugri, director of the Marsa open centre, did not expect Ms Malmström to solve the irregular migration problem.
Ms Malmström depended on decisions taken by individual member states, Dr Bugri noted, adding that Malta also had to play its part in terms of integration.
“Immigrants will go but they will also keep coming and we have to help them integrate,” he said.
Dr Bugri’s centre houses migrants for a year, after which they would have to move out.
The average stay was three months, he said, as migrants moved out to rent in the private sector.
The centre offers educational and training courses, including English language instruction, to ease the integration process.
“We now have to create a framework to support migrants when they find work… it’s important to find work but more important to keep it,” he said.
EU funds have helped improve the conditions at the Marsa open centre and others like it. Brussels has also channelled money towards Malta’s army by part-financing the purchase of essential equipment.
Ms Malmström will argue this is not lethargy, even if it may not be enough.
Whether she is right depends on who answers the question.