Alternattiva Demokratika has accused Nationalist Party MEPs of having become allies of the far-right after the European Parliament vote on Thursday on a resolution on search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

Two votes were needed for the resolution to be passed, AD observed. The Conservative EPP and right-wing liberal forces joined the far-right in voting against the resolution.

“They chose to argue over small details and commas,” AD said. “They chose to ignore human rights and forego saving people’s lives. The far-right were loudly clapping and cheering when the resolution was rejected. Among the EPP MEPs who voted against were the PN’s own Roberta Metsola and David Casa. Remember that two votes were needed to accept this resolution.

“In Europe, the PN is embracing the rhetoric and policies of the far-right.”

AD European Affairs spokesperson Mina Tolu said: “The resolution laid out that the UNHCR says that the route from Libya to Europe is still the migration route with the highest death toll in the world (646 deaths so far in 2019) and was five times deadlier in 2018 than in 2015 notably due to a reduction in search and rescue (SAR) activities off the Libyan coast.

“Let’s not forget that saving lives is not only an act of solidarity but a legal obligation under international law.

“The resolution rejected calls for:

·                     The Commission to support search-and-rescue financially and politically;

·                     Member States to support the UNHCR’s evacuation operations from Libya and to intensify resettlement measures and allow for safe and legal pathways, i.e. humanitarian corridors to the EU;

·                     The Commission to work on a permanent approach to search-and-rescue, rather than rely on ad hoc solutions, including by providing financial support to Member States;

·                     The Council to put forward a position on a fair and sustainable distribution mechanism and solidarity between Member States.”

She asked: “Why did Maltese MEPs choose to vote against a resolution that respects human rights; that would allow for more financial support for Member States, including Malta, to engage in search-and-rescue missions, and for fair and sustainable distribution mechanisms and tangible solidarity between all EU Member States?

“It is important to continue fighting for search-and-rescue missions in the Mediterranean. Let’s support those who save lives. A search-and-rescue mission in the Mediterranean and the decriminalisation of humanitarian assistance is crucial.”

We refuse to play into the hands of organised crime, AD is misleading – PN MEPs

AD’s statement intentionally attempts to mislead readers, PN MEPs David Casa and Roberta Metsola responded in a joint statement.

They said, “There were various resolutions dealing with Search and Rescue voted upon on Thursday, all of which did not garner sufficient majorities to pass. The EPP wants search and rescue efforts in the Mediterranean to increase and this is reflected in the EPP-led resolution tabled. To imply otherwise is disingenuous. 

They explained that the Socialist-led resolution, the subject Alternattiva's statement, called for all vessels to bypass Rescue Coordination Centres, including Malta’s, and disseminate information to any boat in the Mediterranean without any filter. It made no distinction between those vessels saving lives and any other vessels, with all the security risks that that brings with it. “It would have meant a fundamental shift in how rescues are conducted and guarantee chaos. 

“That plays into the hands of human traffickers, enables organised crime, runs contrary to current maritime practice, muddies the chain of command on the high seas and simply puts the lives of everyone involved at risk. 

|It was a reckless add-on to the text that meant no responsible politician could support it. It is why the text did not garner a majority. It is why a number of Socialist and RENEW MEPs also did not support the resolution.”

The PN MEPs said they have always pushed forward the need for a holistic approach that ensures proper coordination of sea rescues and a migration policy that is fair with those in need of protection, firm with those who are not eligible and strong against the human traffickers that exploit the most vulnerable. This Socialist-led resolution did not fulfil those criteria.

The said they voted in favour of an EPP-led resolution that clearly calls on "Member States and Frontex to step up their efforts in support of search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean" and "Calls on the Commission to start working on a new, more sustainable, reliable and permanent approach to SAR, replacing existing ad hoc solutions and to provide material, financial and operational support to Member States for the purpose of better coordinating SAR operations". We regret that the far-left did not support this.”

They insisted that, “The EPP has always been clear in that all NGO rescue vessels should be part of the solution to Search and Rescue in the Mediterranean, so much so that our resolution calls "on all actors in the Mediterranean to transmit information related to persons in distress at sea to the competent authorities for SAR."