Nothing original in the title, but the fact is that it is very true. We have all to gain by being united and, likewise, all to lose by being divided. This is the case with the situation in the Mediterranean at the moment

What is happening in Libya in particular is already grave and serious. Now we are experiencing boats overloaded with people who want to escape from the African continent. They are trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea for a better life, risking their lives while doing so. The first land is either Lampedusa or Malta, and if they are lucky they can even go further up to mainland Europe. The voyage is hard because the boat is overloaded and the sea’s rough too.

We, as Europeans, have our problems, especially due to the smallness of our islands. The European Union, especially those countries which are closer to the Mediterranean, has to cope with the no-fly zone and other countries are sending their military to impose the no-fly zone. Instead of cooperating to tackle the issue of illegal migrants crossing the sea, some EU countries are wasting time arguing. In our case, an Italian prime-time TV presenter said our army is shooting at these boats to keep them away from our shores. Other statements were uttered by different journalists and, even worse, by Italian politicians towards Malta. I don’t think that this attitude from those who should know better is going to solve anything. Two days ago, we got to know that Italy and France are going to make joint patrols to prevent illegal migrants crossing from Tunisia. Appeals made by a number of countries to the European Commission for the EU to act and help those countries that are worst hit by illegal migration have fallen on deaf ears. This is not the solidarity that the EU pretends to have and put into practice. Once I had the opportunity to speak with a Swedish Member of Parliament soon after the current Commission was appointed. I told her that the fact that the Commissioner responsible for migration hails from Sweden is not going to help, since we know that those countries that are not in the Mediterranean basin do not really understand the problems that this area encounters.

The tension between member states is arising also because the EU is not acting and is expecting countries to tackle this problem on their own or otherwise try to cooperate, as the French and the Italians have agreed to do. I don’t believe that this is the solution, and we should continue to state that Malta needs help and that this matter should be an EU matter as well. I hope that solidarity will be put into practice and not just preached by those who lead the EU today. We Maltese did, and are still doing, our part. However, our limited resources prohibit us from doing much more. Hopefully, all the appeals, including those from the UNHCR, will not fall on deaf ears and the EU will accept to deal with this issue collectively and help countries such as Malta. However, this issue cannot be best tackled singlehandedly, but together.

If we Europeans do not tackle it as a united front, we will not manage to best control and help those in need.

I would like to make some comments or observations on the situation on the ground in Libya. Everyone is asking what is going to happen next. However, the answers are very bleak, as no one really knows.

What developed as an internal issue between Libyans has now turned into an international affair since the declaration of the United Nations, which had unanimity. It seems that Gaddafi is still in control of most of Libya, while the so-called rebels are in control of Benghazi and its vicinity. The countries which are acting in accordance with the UN resolution are trying to reduce the military power of the Libyan leader. But the million-dollar question is when will all this stop? And it is followed by another pertinent question: what will happen afterwards?

Of course, I do not pretend to have the answers and I will not try to answer these questions myself. However, I believe that, up to a certain extent, what a former Prime Minister suggested some time ago – to try and settle this issue by dialogue – will avoid the death of innocent people and perhaps also provide a just solution for the Libyan people.

Libya is not a democracy and we all know it. Hopefully, after all this, this neighbour country will move towards democracy with the help of all those countries that can sincerely help in achieving democracy.

Carmelo Abela is the Opposition’s Main Spokesman for Social Policy

Email: [email protected]