European countries had to show more solidarity to ensure that countries like Malta did not shoulder disproportionate responsibilities, Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella said yesterday.
Addressing a conference about preventing irregular and dysfunctional migration, Dr Vella expressed disappointment that some states had already disagreed with the European Commission’s proportionate distribution of refugees.
Malta, he said, had, over the past years, faced a constant challenge of migration. “We had to face this pressure with our own devices as a country on the frontline of what has now become an emergency. What started as a trickle has now become a flood,” he told the conference organised by the Africa-Europe Development Platform.
Stability, he said, could only be achieved through a holistic policy that protected vulnerable people but also prevented irregular migration. Such a policy had to include measures that impinged on the countries of origin, the countries of transit, reception regulations and, ultimately, on the implementation of a migration policy that provided for regular migration.
“Ideally, we should reduce the incentives for irregular migration by intensifying our cooperation and humanitarian assistance with countries of origin through regional development programmes and a return policy for migrants who do not qualify for humanitarian protection,” he said.
Dr Vella also referred to strengthening the presence at sea through EU-joint operations in the Mediterranean so that lives are saved while borders are managed better.
Meanwhile, the EU was seeking the authorisation of the UN Security Council and the Libyan authorities to physically stop human smugglers.
While the EU was not short of legislation dealing with migration, he said, it lacked proper adherence to regulations of internal solidarity and sharing of responsibilities through a fair distribution mechanism.
“European countries need to show greater solidarity and responsibility when it comes to people in need of international protection, based on fair criteria that do not leave countries like Malta to shoulder disproportionate responsibilities,” he insisted.
Dr Vella spoke on allowing migrants to spend some time working, studying or training in Europe, acquire skills and save money and then go back home to help their own country’s economy.
The Minister for Malians Abroad, Abdramane Sylla, said his government had an agreement with Spain to accept migrants and then return them to Mali after they worked there for a while. The money they sent home in the meantime funded agricultural projects, among others, allowing relatives to remain in Mali.
The head of UNHCR’s office in Malta, Jon Hoisaeter, said stakeholders were not communicating effectively with people on the move, those arriving in Europe and others considering fleeing.
Diasporas could be the solution to communicate with them, not only because they had the trust of fellow migrants but also because of their cultural understanding.
His comments were reiterated by Luisa Maia-Goncalves, head of the Immigration Department in Portugal, who insisted that involving diasporas was important even in cases of regular migration.
“We try to involve migrant associations and cultural mediators to pass on information to migrants before they apply for local services so that they are equipped with the right information and documents in hand. Unfortunately, some lawyers might take advantage of migrants who don’t have the right information,” she said.
Meanwhile, dissemination of information through diasporas could also take place in the country of origin so that migrants would know what to expect before they fled, she added.
‘Being expelled is tragic’
Mahamadou Keita, general secretary of the Malian Association of Deportees:
“I came to Europe just like those migrants who lost their lives at sea. I too came from a poor family and when I was in Europe I understood that my experience was shared by other migrants.
“Although Europe is no heaven on earth, many are ready to risk their lives to seek a better one. Nothing is going to stop them from risking their lives.”
Once in Europe, Mr Keita tried his hand at all sorts of jobs to send some money to his relatives in Mali. Then, he was expelled from France in 2005.
“For a migrant, being expelled is tragic. However, it is also a chance to do something in your own country with what you have managed to earn in Europe.
“When I was sent back I had some capital and had gained some skills, so I started my own business in Mali.”
Determined, but sent back to Gambia twice
Bubacarr Jabbi, chairman of Operation No Back Way to Europe, Gambia:
“As a teacher I earned less than the equivalent of €10 a month while my friend, who returned from Europe after travelling there illegally, had several vehicles and was constructing a new building.
“He had fled by land, something I could not imagine doing. Instead, I applied for a Bangkok visa because I could thus take a transit flight through Europe.”
Just before landing in France, on his way to Bangkok, Mr Jabbi destroyed his documents and, when questioned in France, he said he was from Sierra Leone. His cover was blown when someone found some Gambian currency in his pocket and he was sent to Senegal because Europe had no agreement to return migrants to Gambia.
Determined, Mr Jabbi left again by land, and arrived in Spain.
“We were detained on the Canary Islands and, one day, they told us we would be given €5,000 if we agreed to return home. However, once at the airport, we were given an envelope with some €7.
“Back in Gambia for the second time, I decided to share my bitter experience with others who were also thinking of fleeing and we formed an organisation to discourage youths from emigrating illegally.”