Malta has been emphatic in its clear message. Much as we do wish to do our part and have done so to the best of our abilities and well beyond our resources, the impact of irregular and illegal immigration to our shares cannot be borne by Malta on its own as though we do not pertain to a larger family.
I can understand even if I do not appreciate the reluctance by countries that are not suffering like us. The principle of solidarity is ultimately most relevant when put to the test and every national government faces pressures from the people that it represents not to add to its own difficulties.
Be that as it may, Malta has this week managed to convince the European family of which we form part to adopt unanimously a text on a migration and asylum pact which for the first time ever makes a specific reference to the principle that Malta has been harping on – the principle that a burden sharing mechanism needs to be put in place precisely to assist countries such as Malta that are suffering disproportionately in this respect.
Malta’s insistence and diplomatic efforts have borne results. Next month the pact will need to be adopted by the European Council where Malta will be represented by our Prime Minister. Moreover it will then be crucial to see how it will be followed up and implemented in practice.
The agreement reached on Thursday represents a welcome breakthrough for Malta. It is unfortunate that the Labour Party has not risen to the occasion and recognised what we have managed to achieve in the national interest, as opposed to indulging in partisan propaganda that borders on xenophobia.
The agreement was reached on the same day that the new Labour Party leader was quitting his seat at the European Parliament in order to take up the seat to be relinquished by Joseph Cuschieri in our own House of Representatives and officially become the Opposition Leader. I am surprised that Joseph Muscat did not appreciate that had he spoken more objectively about the breakthrough made by Malta, it would have afforded him more rather than less credibility and there would have been some hope that the promised “new political season” stands for a little more than one more hackneyed and empty slogan that is bereft of any real meaning.
As pointed out by Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici the pact will serve as an important tool to direct the European Commission and Member States to work better in matters related to migration and asylum. Through the agreement, EU States will be able to take persons who would have come to Malta.
The agreement assumes even greater significance in the light of the one reached with the government of the United States of America that is accepting to take on a regular basis a number of refugees from those who would have come to Malta.
Our country also stands to receive the necessary assistance to repatriate those who enter our country illegally and who would therefore not qualify to remain here as of any right.
Both Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici as well as Richard Cachia Caruana, our Permanent Representative at the EU who has been working very hard on the matter, deserve all the credit and our gratitude for achieving such a breakthrough whereby for the first time ever the mechanism of burden sharing is being referred to explicitly in an EU document.
Only a couple of weeks ago, together with Labour MP Michael Falzon, I had the opportunity to attend and address a meeting for Chairpersons of Justice and Interior Affairs committees – or their equivalent – in the national Parliaments of the EU Member States. The meeting was held at the Senate Building in France and was attended by Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security.
The first part of the session was dedicated to European Co-ordination on Immigration issues with particular reference to Frontex – results and prospects. The meeting was addressed by Brice Hortefuex, French Immigration Minister. Michael and I intervened during this session. We spoke with one voice to explain the situation in our country. Both the French Minister and the European Commissioner among others referred with concern to the situation in Malta with regard to illegal immigration.
An important breakthrough has been made. By acting together in the national interest, Malta can achieve more. What is required is national political maturity and determination. The government has set the right tone and pace. Hopefully the rest of civil society, including the opposition, rises to the occasion.
Francis Zammit Dimech is a Nationalist MP