The Lampedusa tragedy in which 94 migrants drowned in a shipwreck off the coast is a wake-up call for the European Union, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.
A ship carrying African migrants to Europe caught fire and capsized off the Italian island of Lampedusa today, killing at least 94 people as it spilled hundreds of passengers into the sea. Over 150 people were rescued but some 200 others were still unaccounted for. AP news agency said the incident was one of the deadliest recent accidents in the notoriously perilous Mediterranean Sea crossing from Africa for migrants seeking a new life in the European Union.
Speaking to the media in the presence of Home Affairs Minister Emmanuel Mallia, Foreign Minister George Vella and Armed Forces of Malta Commander Martin Xuereb at Castille, Dr Muscat said that although Malta did not feature in the incident, the government felt the need to express its opinion on the matter.
Expressing solidarity with the victims, their families and Italy, Dr Muscat said that today’s incident shows that no European Union state should be left on its own to deal with the phenomenon of irregular migration.
The EU has spoken on the matter, but there was no action to deal with the situation, Dr Muscat said.
“This incident should not just grab the headlines for a day and be forgotten.
“Malta will insist that the EU will take a stronger approach to tackle the problem,” he said.
Dr Muscat said that Malta will not accept words and no action from the EU, adding that the Migrant Relocation Conference will soon be held and “if we are not satisfied with the EU’s approach to the problem, we will not emerge saying we achieved results when we wouldn’t have”. Minister Mallia is expected to participate in the conference.
He pointed out that migration is to top the European agenda for a good 12 months.
Dr Muscat called for a change in regulations tied to asylum seeking while adding that Malta abides by the EU regulations when dealing with migrant cases and has always taken all measures to safeguard the lives of those persons who end up in difficulty out at sea.
Asked if he agreed with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom’s statement that legal alternatives should be sought for individuals to enter Europe, he said that "Malta has been saying the same thing over and over again, that legal routes should be sought since migrants are spending all they have to be able to fund their crossings and reach their destination".
It has always been clear that Malta is not the preferred destination of migrants seeking to escape their country's turmoil.
Asked for his reaction to Italian senator and former President of Lombardy Roberto Formigoni’s critical statement earlier today broadcast on Italian media, Dr Muscat said that he will not allow individual statements ruin the ties Malta has with Italy, statements that are based on a lack of information.
According to the UN refugee agency, 8,400 migrants landed in Italy and Malta in the first six months of the year, almost double the 4,500 who arrived during the first half of 2012.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-10-03/news/at-least-62-dead-in-migrant-shipwreck-off-sicily-2785148933/