PN EP candidate Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas said that the solution to the challenging situation of illegal immigration should incorporate value towards human life, international solidarity, burden sharing, and, above all, a concrete action by Europe and neighbouring countries.
Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas said that the Maltese are right to identify illegal immigration as a crucial electoral issue for the upcoming EP election. She said that the EU can play a better role which would make a difference, since it can help a lot in finding an effective and fair solution for this problem. "As a country on the EU frontier, Malta has the duty to keep insisting with the EU for it to offer proper assistance," Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas said.
Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas said that once towards the end of 2008 an agreement about the Immigration and Asylum Pact was reached, Malta needs to continue stressing the importance that what is on paper should be put into action by having and effective mechanism that makes burden sharing effectual. Moreover, she said, Frontex has to up its exercise to assist in keeping at bay illegal activities in the Mediterranean.
Referring to Libya, Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas said that it too had an important role to play. The EU, she said, needed to provide Libya with technical and financial help so that it helps in fighting this issue.
Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas stressed that PL leader Joseph Muscat and his party have to act responsibly and not take political advantage of this problem. She said that both the leader of opposition and the PL party itself should shoulder political responsibility and ensure that during the coming five years, their MEPs do their best so as not to commit mistakes when voting in the EP.
Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas said that in the EP, Malta deserved to be represented by people who are responsible, capable of their role, and consistent in what they do. "These are the qualities of the candidates that the PN is putting forward for this Saturday's EP election," she said.