The length of time migrants are kept in detention is according to EU regulations and should not change however, conditions in detention must improve, believes PN leader Simon Busuttil.

He was speaking during a Radio 101 interview today.

While investment has taken place, he said Malta has a great burden and overcrowding certainly results in difficult conditions. He explained some 16,000 migrants arrived in Malta over the past 10 years and while between 3,000 to 5,000 remained in Malta, some 2,000 were resettled in EU countries while thousands were deported. Many others fled Malta.

The PN administration worked very well and while noting more could have been done especially from Europe, he said €130 million in funds were achieved.

He highlighted Malta is the only EU country to have a resettlement programme but the Labour government pressed the “nuclear button” and the “panic button” immediately after being elected to government. The consequence was that he threw all negotiations that took place with Europe over the past 10 years and he created unrest against migrants, on the island.

“We should be pushing Europe to work more with Somalia and countries where migrants originate from, rather than pressing the panic button,” Dr Busuttil said. 

Speaking about oil procurement, he said that besides the PN shouldering political responsibility, legal procedures can be taken against former ministers involved in oil procurement, if this is deemed necessary.

He said if he were instead of Austin Gatt, he would have replied to journalists questions but like the party, he had shouldered political responsibility since the PN was not re-elected to government. Since Dr Gatt is out of the political scene, the party cannot ask him to take particular action.

Noting that it has not yet resulted that the Auditor General spoke to former minister Austin Gatt and the former Enemalta chairman, he called for the report to be discussed during a Public Accounts Committee meeting once Parliament resumes, following summer recess.

Although Dr Busuttil himself has not spoken to the former minister about this, he is aware contact with him was made by the party but did not comment on the feedback received.

In reply to questions on the power station extension, he believes it was not a mistake not to opt for gas technology in the past because its prices did not justify investment costs. The PN government’s main aim was to strengthen energy supply but this was not the only sector the former government had worked on, he said, saying it had managed to achieve records in tourism.

Discussing migration and push backs, Dr Busuttil said European Court of Justice decisions say push backs breach human rights as asylum seekers have the right to file their applications for asylum. He is therefore against such action and strongly believes an agreement is to be reached between the EU and Libya to prevent people from taking the dangerous journeys at sea.

On John Dalli and the Bahamas trips, Dr Busuttil said the former European Commisioner had breached the European Commission Code of Ethics and if this is acceptable to Dr Muscat, who appointed Dr Dalli as consultant on Mater Dei Hospital, this weakens Malta’s position before the EU. Dr Busuttil believes Dr Dalli should not serve as consultant.

Asked whether Dr Dalli is still a PN member, Dr Busuttil replied he certainly does not behave in such a manner, although on paper he might still be listed as member.

In remarks on the PN’s work to regularize its financial situation, he said the party might appoint a CEO but a decision is yet to be taken following recommendations given by a Commission which studied the matter. On the expenditure in the electoral campaign, he said the party is committed to publish its accounts yet did not give a timeframe as to when this will take place.

Giving his views on party financing, Dr Busuttil said a Bill regulating this is much necessary but with regard to state subsidy, which is around €200,000 annually, he said the party has not yet decided on whether this should increase or not. If party fundraising activities will be limited, then subsidy may need to increase. On this, discussions will take place between the two main parties and the government over the coming months.