The government has received official confirmation that the European Court of Human Rights has blocked the possibility of a push-back of migrants to Libya. 

Speaking in Parliament this evening, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia along with the Prime Minister confirmed that this decision will be respected.

In what appears to be a spectacular case of brinksmanship, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat explained that the migrants had been separated, with the healthy male members of the group being considered for the push-back.

Earlier

Earlier on in the same Parliamentary sitting, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat refused to rule out sending migrants back to Libya tonight.

Dr Muscat said that until official word is forthcoming from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the government will continue to consider all its options.

“We stood up to be counted. The situation is no longer tolerable for our country. There is a political cost, and I am ready to bear it all on my shoulders. We believe that until now, we have put the issue on the agenda,” Dr Muscat said.

Referring to the NGOs who filed the injunction with the ECHR, Dr Muscat said that anyone trying to stop the government’s position will also have to bear the cost. 

The Prime Minister confirmed that he was in continual contact with the Libyan government over the issue.

‘Incredible, shocking, condemnable’ – Opposition Leader

 

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil slammed the Prime Minister’s handling of the push-backs matter, declaring that “you are not doing this in our name, you can be responsible for it.”

Dr Busuttil accused the PM of “destroying” Malta’s reputation on the international stage, saying that Dr Muscat is actually working against the national interest, and not for it.

He questioned how people can trust the government to protect their interests, when they weren’t even ready to respects peoples’ lives. 

Prime Minister reacts

The Prime Minister reminded the Opposition that the only time that a Maltese government has actually gone through with a push-back was in 2002 under a Nationalist administration, where 220 migrants were sent back to Eriteria. 

“I was asked how I sleep at night. I do so because I am consistent. I said all this before the election. It is a clear indication that I put the national interest above all else," Dr Muscat said.

He also accused the Opposition of "not being ready to defend the national interest." 

Dr Muscat also said that a long term approach needs to be taken to the situation in North Africa, particularly in Libya, which needs to be encompassed within international norms.