The election last March of a populist Italian government determined to curb migration has led to a series of incidents between Malta and Italy, heightening tensions between the two countries to a level not seen for over a decade.
The appointment of Matteo Salvini as Home Affairs Minister has exacerbated the pressure. His rhetoric has been alarming. His calls for a “mass cleansing, street by street” to get rid of migrants from Italy are reminiscent of the darkest moments in recent European history.
It was inevitable the two neighbouring countries would clash over responsibility for dealing with the rescue of boat people transiting through the central Mediterranean. The row has boiled down to differing interpretations of international maritime law, starting with the 1979 Hamburg convention rule that anyone rescued at sea must be taken to the nearest safe port.
Malta has consistently taken a strong line by refusing entry on the solid grounds under international law that people rescued at sea should be disembarked at the closest safe port of call, which has often been Lampedusa. Mr Salvini has balked at NGO rescue vessels sailing past Malta to take migrants to Italy under Operation Sophia, the naval mission led by Italy to rescue migrants at sea. This has led to a stand-off in relations between Italy and Malta, which is unhealthy, unseemly and unconstructive politically apart from imperilling the lives of desperate refugees from Syria and Libya seeking asylum.
Two former ministers for foreign affairs, Tonio Borg and George Vella, have made a plea for Maltese and Italian politicians to sit around a table to discuss the migration crisis, rather than lash out at each other via Twitter. A united stand on the migration problem should be sought through a summit between the two governments.
Still, notwithstanding the need for talks, there is one action which Prime Minister Joseph Muscat could and should take immediately that would neither affect subsequent discussions with the Italian government nor undermine Malta’s position. On the contrary, it would enhance it.
The refusal to allow NGO rescue craft to use Malta is morally indefensible. The death rate for migrants crossing the Mediterranean has soared as charity boats have been forced from the waters off Libya. Although Mr Salvini’s actions play well in Italy, Malta should not sink to the same level.
No sensible person could possibly dispute the former Maltese foreign ministers’ approach about the need for the two countries to talk. But it may be easier said than done. Mr Salvini has taken an unbending stance. He regards other EU countries’ refugee policy as “hypocritical” for refusing to accept more migrants rescued from the Mediterranean under Sophia.
Italy wants to rotate the ports at which rescued migrants can disembark, since they are retained in Italy. It is threatening to end the Sophia mission.
The political stakes on migration are extremely high. Not to mention the death toll.
While building bridges with Italy is crucially important to Malta, the timing of any démarche is critical. The next EU summit will take place on Thursday. With populist parties in Europe in the ascendant, tackling Europe’s migration problems will loom even greater than before. Perhaps the Prime Minister might want to await the outcome of the leaders’ meeting before making his move to rebuild bridges with Italy.
This is a Times of Malta print editorial