[WATCH] Joseph Muscat warns countries growing numb to migration tragedies

While there is convergence on Brexit and how to tackle negotiations with the UK, European Union member states were still far from an agreement on migration and burden sharing, and were growing numb to the tragedy, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat warned.

Muscat, who was addressing a press conference in Castille with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte and the prime minister of Slovakia Robert Fico, said that the death of 240 people in two shipwrecks off the coast of Libya had hardly made the news, indicating that countries are becoming numb to the problem and proving that further discussion on a European level is warranted.

Muscat was addressing a press conference in Castille with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Slovakian Prime Minister Slovakia Robert Fico.

The two prime ministers landed in Malta this morning to discuss with Muscat the trio’s agenda, which will be concluded by Malta during its upcoming Presidency of the European Council.

Malta will take over the rotating presidency from Slovakia in January 2017 for a six-month period. Slovakia had taken over the presidency from the Netherlands in July this year.

Muscat said that talks focused on migration and Brexit, with particular attention paid to Slovakia's proposal on burden sharing with regards to migrants in the EU.
Muscat said that migration and Brexit were the main issues discussed, with particular attention paid to Slovakia's proposal on burden sharing with regards to migrants in the EU.

“There is a lot of common ground, not only among our three countries, but also with all the other member states,” he said. “We look forward, come January, to be able to build on the very solid work carried out under the Slovak presidency.”

Fico – who said he was glad to be back in Malta having spent his honeymoon here with his wife in 1988 – confirmed that the tri-nation discussion earlier had been very constructive and that he had particularly appreciated the debate on migration and Slovakia’s proposal for burden sharing.

“The question is, are we politically ready to tackle the division that is prevalent in the EU at the moment, in issues like quotas?” he asked.

“I hope we will be able to reach some compromise by the Brussels summit in December, or at least by mid-2017.”

Rutte said he was very pleased with the work carried out under the three countries’ common 18-month agenda and that he was optimistic that much more would be completed by the end of Malta’s presidency in June 2017.

As to the Slovakian proposal on migration, Rutte said it was evident that the EU need to limit the number of people entering the EU, and welcomed Slovakia’s decision to put forward a number of options for consideration.

“These proposals include a number of ideas aimed at breaking the current deadlock on burden-sharing across all member states, and this is something we must tackle urgently to support the number of migrants that have already entered the EU,” he said.

Muscat noted that the issue of migration remained an issue of contention among the member states.

“While there is total convergence on the issue of Brexit and how the EU will tackle negotiations with the UK, there is not so good news on migration, with many countries still far from reaching consensus,” he said.

Muscat praised the Slovakian government for putting forward a proposal aimed at breaking the deadlock.

“The Slovak presidency was brave enough to come up with a proposal, whether we agree with it or not,” he said. “Doing nothing is not an option, and I totally support the Slovak presidency’s decision to not let the status quo be.”

He said the meeting earlier with the other two prime ministers had served as a focus group, where the three leaders discussed the Slovakian proposal in greater details and highlighted their countries’ likes and dislikes.

As to the proposed common EU consolidated tax base, Muscat said Malta had no problem with having greater transparency and uniformity across all member states.

“But the issue of a one-size-fits-all system does concern us and that is a red line for us that we will not cross,” he said.

What is the trio?

Over the past month, a number of European Commissioners – and more recently High Representative Federica Mogherini – visited the island as Malta prepares for its six months heading the EU agenda.

The Presidency Trio (2016 to mid-2017) drew up an 18-month agenda, giving priority to migration, jobs, growth, energy and security.

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every six months. During this six-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.