The leaders of the Member States of the European Union are gathering in Brussels for a special European Council called for by a number of States, including Malta, to discuss what the Member States and the EU institutions can do to bring immediate relief to the very serious situation brought to public attention by the recent tragedies in the Mediterranean.
The meeting began at 4pm with a minute of silence in honour of the dead.
Addressing journalists before going for the meeting, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that unprecedented public pressure prompted political willingness to tackle the migration catastrophe
“The proposals are a rehash of what we’ve heard in the past. What’s different is there’s more political willingness. There’s a changed political climate. Is it enough? It is never enough,” Dr Muscat said.
Asked if the EU had let Malta down, Dr Muscat replied: "It’s letting human beings down. We will continue doing our job. We will continue giving 100 per cent of our limited military assets. What’s really important is that I sense a changed political climate. I think the real news today is there’s political backing to the proposal to go after the criminals who are managing this network.”
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat arrived at the European Council at around five minutes to four.
He arrived in a veritable scrum of prime ministers coming from their respective political meetings.
As he arrived, just next to me the prime ministers of Holland, Sweden and Denmark were each briefing their journalists.
Prime Minister Muscat stopped outside the building and again just inside this time to address some Maltese journalists.
Dr Muscat in fact, did address the media, twice, which is far better than his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi who walked in with a look midway between anguish and concerned.
British prime minister Cameron stopped and said this is a real tragedy and the immediate priority is to rescue lives as well to stabilise the region. Britain will help in what needs to be done with its helicopters and ships potentially being made available under the correct circumstances.
French President Francois Hollande said France had asked for this meeting to be held precisely so that European solidarity is reinforced.
Earlier President Donald Tusk said the aim of this special summit is to reinforce European solidarity through, among other things, to discuss and improve the resettlement issue of immigrants. As he had said earlier in his invitation letter, President Tusk said one must not expect that all issues be solved today. The immigrants come from a background of war and penury. All Member States are called upon to make an extra effort to handle the situation. It is understandable that everyone must sacrifice something to get an acceptable solution.
Outside the building where the PES leaders meet, a small group of protesters on behalf of Amnesty International together with some onlookers have gathered. The group then moved towards the Council building.
In his invitation letter, President Donald Tusk said “We all know that migration is a complex issue that can only be addressed by also tackling its root causes. This will take time but I am convinced that we must and shall do it.
“Today, our overriding priority is to prevent more people from dying at sea.
“I therefore expect us to agree on very practical measures contributing to this objective, in particular by strengthening search and rescue possibilities, by fighting the smugglers and by discouraging their victims from putting their life at risk, while reinforcing solidarity between the Member States.
“These immediate steps will be a first step in developing a more systematic and geographically comprehensive EU approach to migration in the near future.”