The elections for a new European Parliament are now only a few weeks away and from a series of interviews with MEP candidates conducted by another newspaper, it is crystal clear that local issues will be the main topic on which these elections will be decided.

Foremost on the agenda of local issues is the subject of irregular immigration. I prefer to use this term rather than ‘illegal immigration’ as the former better describes the human tragedy behind this phenomenon of the 21st century: a human tragedy characterised by the desperation of homeless African citizens in search of a better life. Attempting to travel across the Mediterranean basin from the Libyan coast is a risk in itself, let alone having to travel across the Sahara desert to get there.

Before pursuing this issue further, it is imperative that a distinction is drawn between the subject of this article and immigration occasioned by Malta’s accession to the European Union. As things stand, citizens from other EU member states have the right to travel to any EU jurisdiction they choose in search of an employment opportunity there. The bonding theme of the EU as a bloc is indeed the free flow of capital, people, goods and services.

However, it is worth pointing out that in the run up to the EP elections in Britain, there is a strong bias in favour of implementing further regulations where EU migration is concerned. It is being proposed there that any EU citizen who is unsuccessful in securing employment is obliged to return to his home country after three months. At the same time, other parties to the debate are emphasising that the UK should embrace immigration rather than resist it. Indeed, a number of UK employers have argued that unless there are migrants from other EU countries, it might prove too difficult for them to fill certain vacancies.

Finding the right balance is always a problem, as the degree of exploitation also increases. So I would not be surprised if the next EU parliament has to introduce some new form of regulation in this respect.

Going back to irregular immigration, Malta – very well known for its warm hospitality – will continue to provide food, shelter and medical care to all those that reach our shores. Yet, Malta’s size is a given and surely it has its limits as to the number of irregular migrants that can land on our shores. Those that do will, primarily, have to stay in one of the detention centres until their application for asylum has been processed. In this context, Malta will continue to honour its international commitments.

Those that are successful will eventually try to obtain a job in order to have a steady income. Here again, it is disturbing to learn that, having fled their country to seek a better future, they end up being exploited as a result of being paid lower wages than are paid to Maltese workers. For a country that boasts of following the Roman Catholic faith, such unethical behaviour should stop and in this regard the government is duty-bound to implement whatever measures are necessary.

The bigger problem is, however, those who are unsuccessful in their application for asylum. Being confined in a detention centre when the original intention was to seek a better life is literally a contradiction in terms. It is in this context where the notion of burden-sharing comes to the fore.

Following last year’s tragedy off the coast of Lampedusa the Maltese government, led by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, lobbied alongside its Italian and Greek counterparts to influence an EU council meeting. The intention was to draw more attention from other EU member states to the fact that concrete action has to be taken as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that process was overshadowed by developments in the Syrian crisis and the problem was deferred to this year.

Recently, Brussels held a summit between the EU and countries in the African continent at which the Maltese government managed to secure an agreement with the Nigerian government. Some 155 irregular migrants that had been unsuccessful in their applications for asylum will be sent back to Nigeria. As explained by the Prime Minister himself in Zurrieq on 6 April, the Nigerian government has agreed to treat them with full human dignity and it will be held responsible for any wrongdoing, whilst the EU will foot the bill for all the repatriation costs.

This recent agreement should be extrapolated in realising further the notion of putting a halt to the exploitation of this African country and Malta has an important role to play in this regard. Irrespective of its size, it has in the past managed to influence foreign policy. Way back in 1973, Premier Dom Mintoff took everyone by surprise in Helsinki when he claimed that there could not be any peace in Europe unless peace was achieved in the Mediterranean basin. More recently, the late President Emeritus Guido de Marco made it clear with his gestures and words that no nation can invade another one and deprive it of its legitimate existence, as was the case when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

These are two instances of Malta changing the course of events where international relations are concerned and I am a strong believer that, through its present political leaders, Malta can do it yet again. I am confident that the 2015 CHOGM will be the ideal forum at which to raise further awareness about irregular immigration and that it is about time that the international community engages to ensure that our fellow African citizens do not continue to contemplate running away from their country. They can stay put safe in the knowledge that their country will provide them with the food and drink they need, as well a place in which to live.

Is this just a dream? Maybe for now, but I am a strong believer that 2014 – with its fresh EP elections and the installation of an EU commission – will provide the right leaders to see it materialise. Time will tell.

Dr Grixti is a Labour Party candidate in the forthcoming European parliamentary election