Luciano Busuttil, Chairman of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee, participated in the Conference of the Chairpersons of the European Affairs Committees (COSAC Chairpersons’ Meeting) held in Luxembourg today within the framework of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

With reference to the priorities of the Luxembourg presidency, Luciano Busuttil noted with great satisfaction that the Presidency has listed migration as one of its priorities. It shows that the Presidency wants to deal with the current situation of migrants present in Europe combining their rights for justice and freedom with our right for security.

Luciano Busuttil made reference to the current disagreement present among member states relating to the relocation of 40,000 migrants from Italy and Greece as evidence that Europe is still far away from achieving a consensual policy regulating the problem of irregular migration. Irregular migration is neither a Maltese problem nor a Mediterranean problem, but it is a European problem. Such a problem should be tackled at source or else Europe could lose control over it with devastating effects.

Luciano Busuttil mentioned also that terrorism is not only on Europe’s doorstep but it has even infiltrated the continent. Terrorists could use migration as a useful channel to enter Europe from the southern border of the EU to the northern countries. All of Europe is at risk, no matter how geographically far countries are from this phenomenon.

Solidarity is another European value referred to by Mr Busuttil, recalling that it is one of the fundamental pillars on which the EU has been founded. If Europe believes in this value, then no member can both morally and legally abstain from lifting this responsibility to share the burden that other fellow member states are carrying on their own. Malta as an island state cannot close its borders and fulfils its duty to save lives. He concluded by saying that saving lives is important, however a comprehensive policy on relocation of migrants among the European states is required.