The immigration Armageddon

Joseph Muscat is wrong on two counts: accepting migrants claiming international protection is not an act of compassion but a right protected by international law; and hinting at defying international obligations is a disservice to the responsibility-sharing cause

Joseph Muscat (left) and Manuel Mallia
Joseph Muscat (left) and Manuel Mallia

Some Maltese seem to live under the impression that the island has been struck by some cataclysm... as if a meteorite has fallen from the sky and destroyed a part of the island simply because 290 people have been rescued from the high seas.

Instead of reminding those who elected him that Malta has a legal obligation to offer its protection to these people, Joseph Muscat speaks of compassion and hints that if other European countries do not answer Malta's call for help, he will stop being charitable.

Moreover, instead of educating the public about Malta's obligations, he speaks like the average Joe Blogger: replying to European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström's comment that Malta's migrant arrivals have not reached an alarming rate, Muscat invites her to have Sweden, her home country, accept them.

Sweden is definitely the wrong target. It does not even fit in the caricature of a former colonial power turning its back on Africa. Sweden has always been at the forefront of international solidarity. In 2012, 43,900 asylum seekers arrived in Sweden. Nearly half were from Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia, and will qualify for protection.

The problem with Muscat is that in opposition he raised expectations by talking about pushbacks and hinting at suspending international obligations. Now that he's in government, these empty promises have returned to haunt him, with some starting to ask, "Why hasn't he pushed them back?"

Now he further fuels expectations by hinting that he might still do that at some point in the future. This leads to my suspicion that he is using this issue to deflect criticism on other issues. Right-wing politicians like Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi were experts in this kind of posturing. Ultimately it proved to be their undoing, as their hard talk simply gave legitimacy to populist movements like Marine Le Pen's National Front in France.

Of course, Muscat's comments always include a disclaimer - that he wants to be hard with politicians not with migrants. Still, his ultimate threat is closing the door on migrants.

His other threat is the veto. But this is in itself problematic: how can one use the veto on an unrelated issue without losing credibility on the international stage? Is this his way of persuading others to accept Malta's justified plea for an effective mechanism for shared responsibility? Moreover, is it worth risking our international reputation, which is so valuable in economic terms, simply to pander to popular sentiment?

I am sure that the cost of turning Malta in to a pariah nation will outweigh any benefits from strong-arm tactics. Poland learned this well following the threats of the Kaczynski twins to veto the EU treaty in 2007.

Ultimately, the people who are most likely to sympathise with Malta's cause are those who are most likely to be repulsed by Muscat's bullish speeches. What Malta needs is alliances with political groups and civil society, which will create the necessary level of consent for shared responsibility - something which is opposed by politicians who engage in a discourse similar to Muscat's.

Moreover, such tactics have not worked in the past. A decade ago it was Tonio Borg who hinted at suspending Malta's international obligations. It is very positive that the PN has now taken a stance against pushbacks. I am sure that resisting the populist temptations comes at a political cost, a cost willingly paid by the Greens in the past.

Yet it is worth remembering that in 2009, when commenting on the Italian pushback policy, Simon Busuttil himself said, "Although it was understandable to ask questions on Italy's policy of returning migrants to Libya, it is indisputable that, as a result of these returns, the number of arrivals this year was down from last year and so were the number of tragic deaths." I just hope that Muscat also has a similar change of heart.

But what irks me most is the lack of perspective when politicians who should know better present the arrival of a sizeable number of migrants as some sort of national emergency.

We all seem to forget that Malta includes 13,000 perfectly legal workers hailing from 190 different countries. These do not qualify for international protection but are allowed to stay here because we require their work. Yet many of the arguments used against the migrants at sea should apply to the migrant workers - for example, that Malta is too overpopulated and cannot deal with so many different cultures. Since these fellow human beings do not pose any insurmountable problems, why should a more limited number of migrants from Africa pose such problems?

Many people also conveniently ignore the fact that successive governments have sought to attract foreigners to buy property to Malta, with the new government going so far as to lower the thresholds to facilitate their foreign residency.

All talk that Malta lacks the space to accommodate migrants contrasts with the reality that despite having the highest number of vacant properties in Europe, successive Maltese governments have sought to attract more foreigners to absorb the property glut.

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@algan This is a comment worth replying to. First of all my point is with regards to a category of migrants who qualify for international protection. Therefore this is primarily an issue of legality which over rides other factors. However it is true that immigrants are in a number of cases serving as a 'reserve army of labour' providing cheap labour and are even hired on a daily basis from places like Marsa. Probably many are doing jobs which very few maltese are willing to perform (this is a pattern in most european countries). This is the case not just the migrants but also a category of legal workers from eastern europe, asia and even countries like spain-something which is rarely mentioned by the immigrant bashers. But my fear is that by giving the impression that migration is a temporary phenomenon which can be made to vanish away through some magic wand or some moment of Napoleonic grandeur , politicians are refraining from addressing problem through full integration of migrants in legal labour market. Algan also seems to miss one important point. Immigrants can also contribute to making our pension system more sustainable in the long run due to increase in aging population. This has been the case in other European countries.
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A decade ago it was Tonio Borg who hinted at suspending Malta's international obligations...... James you conveniently forgot that 3 decades ago Dom Mintoff stood up to the USA and Russia and got what he wanted. Comparing our PL politicians to Tonio Borg is an insult as you know that PL does not let others bulldoze over Malta.
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Like SimonPN , James you'll never change.Nobody can take you seriously when you come up with such childish and puerile statements. Worst of all dictating to Joseph Muscat, when you mange to win an election on a scale that Joseph did then I guess you can start dictating things until then simply state your opinions, cause you are entitled to them. Grow up James
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It favours a certain class of businessman and property owner to be in favour of these illegals. Go to any building site and other menial job places and you find these irregulars being exploited by low pay and long hours. This is also resulting in high employment among our working classes who now find that employers prefer to pay these irregulars a pittance rather than pay a decent wage. Some property owners also manage to rent substandard properties which no Maltese would touch at outrageous rents often packing themselves in to the downgrading of the street. Of course our elite shielded in their classy neighbourhoods do not see or have to face such problems on a day to day basis.
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@mariah and others The provisions of the referendum law do not apply to this article and to the following enactments: (a) the Constitution and any regulation made under any provision thereof; (b) the European Convention Act; (c) any law providing for the matters referred to in article 56(8)(a), (b) or (c) of the Constitution; (d) the Interpretation Act; (e) the General Elections Act; (f) any fiscal legislation; (g) any legislation giving effect to any treaty obligation undertaken by Malta; (h) save as provided in article 36A of the Local Councils Act, any bye-law made by any local council under the said Act. This means that a referendum on immigration is not possible as it would be in breach of international treaties to which Malta is a signatory. As regards to surveys MaltaToday did surveys on immigration in the past. http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/04/05/t1.html
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James Debono is another Daphne Caruana Galizia and cannot be taken seriously. On this issue the vast majority is behind the Prime Minister ( and by vast majority I mean more than 70%.) The citizens want a Prime Minister who has the guts to seriously face the European Leaders and demand for concrete assistance. The attitude that Debono and the PN want the PM to show got the PN government nowhere on this issue in the last years. It did not work out. So now it's the time to start working more seriously and show that Malta cannot be taken for granted. Simple Simon only managed the burden sharing agreement with his soft attitude which meant almost nothing. Shame on the EU for the fact that the US alone showed more compassion in this regard over the last few years.
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Who are you James Debono to tell Joseph Muscat, PRIME MINISTER DR. JOSEPH MUSCAT to you that he is wrong on two counts when he is doing what WE THE PEOPLE OF MALTA elected him to do? Dr Muscat was elected to govern Malta, to look after the interest of its citizens . and he is doing just that , and doing it very well! As for your Simon , who you interviewed this morning, he is just a Dr. Joseph Muscat wannabe! He is still suffering from the AFTERSHOCH of the 9th March and is clearly not thinking STR8! http://arc.eppgroup.eu/press/showpr.asp?prcontroldoctypeid=1&prcontrolid=7350&prcontentid=12812&prcontentlg=en
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We give up waiting for James Debono's answers to readers'questions. Probably he is a snob and thinks that readers cannot understand his intelligent humanitarian analysis. Please teach us, O GREAT ONE!, how to negociate gently, diplomatically and lengthily with the EU while the boats with 300 illegal immigrants come in. We shall listen but not utter a word. We are sure that it's a matter of time when Mr Debono finds a solution - which he is still looking for while we stare in amazement and with bated breath.
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https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/600216_469371353153473_1728349588_n.jpg
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Mr Debono maybe you should investigate and be a real blogger and ask the people of California , USA how in a very short time the Majority became the Minority and the Minority became the Majority. You might say this will never happen to us. Californians used to say the same thing. Same thing will happen to Malta if this influx of illegal immigrants keep invading our little country. To you James Debono et al, these are the facts which you could and should check for yourself. I think Joseph Muscat has the right to protect the Maltese people. Our generation is fine, but what are you going to tell your grandchildren when and if this sort of thing happens here in Malta? Or maybe you do not care as long as you get to write your blog.
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Words of someone who is clearly not affected. I could go on for days about how you are so wrong but I will spare everyone. As a Maltese descendant looking to enter the field of Journalism, this piece disappoints me.
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What a load of anti Muscat, PN style of propaganda. If for this Debono, it does not seem like we have been hit by a meteorite, he better learn that the best politicians are the ones who have foresight and plan for the long term. This problem is a volcanic eruption causing a small earthquake with each boatload of illegals that set foot on our island. There will come a time when the tsunamis caused by the earthquake will engulf us all. If Debono is to be taken seriously, he should rather be coming out with credible and doable ideas as to how we, as a Nation, are going to find a sustainable solution for this problem. And unless he starts looking at it and calling it by its name, a problem, he is in no way the right person to give advices on how we can solve it for our present and future well being.
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PRIME MINISTER MUSCAT IS NOT WRONG AT ALL! How can he be wrong if he is doing his duty and looking after the Maltese people's interests and future? And what does Simon says..... or used to say? Simon says CUT OUT THE HYPOCISY and we say CUT OUT THE HYPOCRICY Simon! http://arc.eppgroup.eu/press/showpr.asp?prcontroldoctypeid=1&prcontrolid=7350&prcontentid=12812&prcontentlg=en
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Immigration is a two-faced coin: Why not enlighten the readers about the Europeans migration to the south? We are not talking about colonisation here but people inalienable right to seek better living. http://www.dw.de/from-portugal-to-mozambique/a-16647809 : Thousands of Portugese nationals have fled the financial crisis and unemployment in their home country to start a better life in a former Portuguese colony, whose economy is booming. http://mg.co.za/article/2013-07-03-portugese-migrants-flock-to-mozambique-to-seek-opportunities: The financial crisis in Europe has brought an influx of Portuguese migrants to Mozambique, creating employment opportunities in the process. http://www.irinnews.org/report/98341/portuguese-migrants-seek-opportunities-in-mozambique : Portuguese migrants seek opportunities in Mozambique http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/22/mozambique-portuguese-migrants : Portugal's migrants hope for new life in old African colony. Increasing numbers of Europeans are going to Mozambique in search of work, but many have unrealistic expectations http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/21/europe-migrants-crisis-irish-portuguese: Europeans migrate south as continent drifts deeper into crisis. Tens of thousands of Irish, Greek and Portuguese people leave in search of a new life as the eurozone's woes worsen http://newsrescue.com/migrating-south-europeans-seek-greener-pastures-africa/#axzz2YLcPUgGl : Migrating South: Europeans Seek Greener Pastures All Over Africa. http://introtoglobalstudies.com/2013/04/european-migration-to-africa/: European Migration to Africa http://www.imi.ox.ac.uk/news/europeans-migrate-to-africa#sthash.CqMHSxtW.dpuf : Europeans migrate to Africa, Jul 20, 2012: With the economic crisis hitting many countries hard, and unemployment soaring, Europeans have started emigrating again
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Hours after being asked to answer readers' questions on illegal immigration, James Debono remains silent. Are we simple readers not worth answering as we are not intellectual enough? Are we not up to debating standard? Is Mr Debono treating us with justice and courtesy when ignoring us? Columnists and bloggers must debate with readers in a progressive newspaper. Also journalistic maturity takes into consideration the opinions of readers and the majority of the population without promoting minorities as if they were majorities. Malta Today has carried out excellent sociological surveys. Why not one about illegal immigration too? Would James Debono agree? Or is this another reader's question he does not wish to answer?
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What does Mr. Debono mean by "Malta is too overpopulated and cannot deal with so many different cultures". The 13,000 he mentions are mostly European and these do not belong to "different cultures", they do not infibulate their baby girls. Keeping so Many Africans in Malta only condemns our children to future social strife, religious and social tension. This is what those opposing "refoulement" or any other possible solutions to the African immigration problem refuse to see. Multiculturalism and integration was a pious idea that failed wherever it was tried. It will fail in Malta too. The price will be paid by our children. Cetain NGO's have their heads in the sand or care only about their vested interests. Some are made up of men sworn to celibacy who have no children and no investment in the future. Wake up and look reality in the face! This is realism, not racism. It's clear to all who are not blind because they refuse to see.
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I note that you have no criticism for the other member states who refuse to share the burden. You pounced on the fact that Sweden is not a former colonial power ( this country was only mentioned because the person who said that the situation is not alarming happened to be a swede). However, The E.U. is replete with former colonial powers who became super powers by means of the resources they plundered from their former colonies. These are also refusing to share the burden. You have no criticism for them either. Who are you trying to please?
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James Debono remains true to himself - a member of the tiny, vociferous pro-immigration lobby. He, however, never tells us how many, in his opinion, illegal immigrants we should accept in Malta. He finds this question difficult. He also conveniently forgets to suggest solutions. Obviously when a person speaks from his beard, he criticises other people's solutions but offers none. Ever heard of an armchair critic, Mr Debono? Finally, would you be in favour of a referendum on illegal immigration, Mr Debono. I suppose that you have no answer to this. Maybe a referendum is not a democratic measure? I doubt if you have answers to my questions as to those of other readers in disagreement with you!
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Welcome everybody to James 'Joe Blogger' Debono's Blog.
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Why is our Prim Minister wrong for shouting out loud that our SMALL islands needs help from our so called EU partners? It appears that we are only listened too when there is need to fork out millions to help those bankrupt EU countries.
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So Marie Le Pen is a populist movement. I am just a stupid git but anybody who has an inkling of French politics. Le Penn inherited the movement from her dad and then as now it is considered as a neo fascist racist party. Populist my foot!
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Please note that you are mixed up and do not know what you are saying. First of all all the foreign workers need to qualify for a working permit hence proving that their service is required as there will be lack of such tradesmen on the Island. Apart from that they pay tax and NI as all Maltese workers. Secondly foreigners who buy property to settle in Malta have to proof that they will not become a burden on the government. With all respect illegal immigrants become a burden from the time they are located at sea miles offshore. It is our obligation to help any person in distress but not to keep them here.
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Dear Mrs Vella, what you ignored is that this is primarily a Malta problem irrelevant if we are in the EU or not. We do need the help of other european countries but what is required is a persuasive statesman who can plead our case forcefully but diplomatically. For stamping my feet and sulking, I usually got sent to my room and had to forfeit my pocket money.
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Sorry I dont agree with this writer, compassion can only go so far then its abuse of the good will. JM is right, We have had enough, its not the 290 who were rescued the other day its all the rest that have come over the last few years and how much is Malta supposed to take when other countries dont help us out. Its our money (tax payers) paying for these people and please dont tell me they were all in danger in their own country. These people have a huge chip on their shoulders and think that the world owes them everything. I am thankful we have someone like JM who is willing to stand up for the Maltese people and not like the last government who were the EU puppets and did nothing. Malta belongs to the Maltese.
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I Agree about the Prime minister telling the EU that other state members have to help out in this matter. I am sorry for all the people concerned, but all countries must join forces and try to help these countries to solve their internal problems. It seems that countries involve themselves only, when there is something to be gained.
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The writer conveniently ignores four facts. First, Africa has a total population of one billion, or 1000 million, people. Therefore the number of refugees and illegal immigrants from that continent is potentially never ending. Second, Malta is a democracy and the will of the Maltese people is supreme. Third, JM declared his stand on the illegal immigration problem before the election and obtained a clear majority; no one can accuse him of betraying his electorate. Fourth, the government has the supreme obligation of defending Malta's national interest before all other considerations.