Malta and other southern European states which have extensive business interests with Libya may decide to disregard the Schengen area blacklist issued by Switzerland if the current visas dispute continues, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg has confirmed.
The dispute, which started almost a month ago, has seen Libya banning entry to all travellers from Schengen area countries in retaliation for the Swiss blacklist, which includes senior Libyan officials.
Hundreds of Maltese workers in Libya have started to fear for their jobs as they return home and are not allowed back into Libya.
Malta, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal have all criticised the Swiss decision, which is binding on all Schengen area countries. They could now decide to issue visas regularly for Libyan visitors to their countries as long as Libya does the same.
The issue is due to be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers tomorrow week.
Dr Borg, who had talks in Tripoli on Monday and Tuesday, said on Friday that Malta was prepared for all eventualities if the visas stalemate continued. Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday also called for unilateral action to safeguard the national interest.
Steve Borg, a worker in Libya, told timesofmalta.com in a comment that he has been working in Libya for the last couple of years together with an estimated 5,000 direct workers in Libya.
"I have been stranded here in Malta for the last four weeks and have also tried twice to enter the country but was sent back on the same flight. However what irked me most was that on my last attempt (11/3/2010) all the Italians onboard (about 10 in total) were let into the country without any problems whatsover, while me and the rest of the Maltese people were turned back. How about the government, opposition and anybody who has got a say in this matter starting doing something before we keep on losing business and jobs to English/American/Italian companies. While I believe the minister who visited Libya did his best in this matter I think it was already a bit too late after almost a four weeks dispute.
"If you see the amount of tax we pay in Malta from the wages we get from Libya (apart from the business we generate in Malta) it should be enough to sort this matter regardless of outcome."