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On ‘emotive’ migration, Muscat still supports pushbacks to safe ports
Prime Minister visits European Asylum Support Office, says Malta wants regime change in Syria
26 June 2013, 12:00am
Teodor Reljic
Teodor Reljic
2 min read
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has reiterated his support of migrant pushbacks to ports of call that are declared "safe", in replies to questions put to him during a visit to the European Asylum Support Office.
Muscat met executive director Robert Visser at the EASO offices in Valletta.
Muscat reiterated his stance in favour of pushbacks to "safe countries", which he affirmed earlier this year during the general elections, and added that his government was engaging with Libya in talks to ease the pressure the country has experienced with sub-Saharan migration. "They cannot deal with it on their own... there is willingness on both sides to cooperating on this issue," Muscat said.
The prime minister said he looked forward to seeing EASO consolidate its work and data research, and said the outlook for the asylum support office was positive. "I understand that our meetings with other EU ministers on migration tend to be rather emotive, and I understand why... but we won't support any piecemeal attitudes from the EU on migration. We want concrete steps to be taken - we will not refuse our support on EU measures, but we will abstain on them," Muscat said.
Muscat also said the Maltese government was following closely the Syrian conflict and its effect on migration patterns. "Syria is part of our neighbourhood so we are looking closely at what is taking place. We recognise the opposition there as the people's legitimate representation and we are advocating regime change. But first we have to acknowledge that this is a humanitarian crisis," Muscat said.
Visser thanked the Prime Minister for the support which the Maltese government provided to EASO in its set-up phase. "The agency is ready to continue supporting the asylum system of Malta and together with the Maltese government, will look into ways of enhancing such support."
The two sides also discussed the results of the fact finding report on intra EU relocation from Malta. The report, which was issued by EASO in 2012, and which will feed into the evaluation that the European Commission will conduct once EUREMA II comes to an end, concluded that even though Member States considered intra-EU relocation as a concrete tool for demonstrating intra-EU solidarity, most Member States had mixed views on its protracted use. In general, member states were in favour of a range of intra-EU solidarity measures, which could include intra-EU relocation, with participation in the latter being voluntary and based on a political decision.
"Malta is very important for EASO. Apart from being the host country of the agency, the subject matter of the agency is of particular relevance to this country. EASO looks forward to strengthen its relationship with the Maltese government and to continue to support the Maltese asylum system."
Teodor Reljić was born in Belgrade, Serbia and raised in Malta. He writes fiction across ...
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The only long term and feasible way that Europe can help Africans is to help them get rid of their corrupt leaders and stop European companies enriching themselves from the 'buy low, sell high' commodities. But of course it is not in the interest of the European nations to have a stable and economically viable Africa: all the 'good doers' of Europe are interested in is to continue to plunder Africa. As for immigrants who make the crazy and near to impossible cruel crossings of the Sahara and the cruel sea, who cares? Malta will take care of them! Is this what the NGOs are fighting for? Helping Africa with the brain drain and helping dictators to continue with their old ways:to get rid of their people whilst enriching themselves and family in such a filthy way? Is this what 'good doers' really want?
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The only long term and feasible way that Europe can help Africans is to help them get rid of their corrupt leaders and stop European companies enriching themselves from the 'buy low, sell high' commodities. But of course it is not in the interest of the European nations to have a stable and economically viable Africa: all the 'good doers' of Europe are interested in is to continue to plunder Africa. As for immigrants who make the crazy and near to impossible cruel crossings of the Sahara and the cruel sea, who cares? Malta will take care of them! Is this what the NGOs are fighting for? Helping Africa with the brain drain and helping dictators to continue with their old ways:to get rid of their people whilst enriching themselves and family in such a filthy way? Is this what 'good doers' really want?
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Syria:The Syrian Arab Army and Bashar-Al-Assad are doing the world a favour by facing up and hammering the latest Jihad.Leaders like Muscat want regime change for what reason? The corrupt British Government are making massive cuts in their own armed forces yet are arming the terrorists in Syria.Do you spot the enemy yet? Muscat is a poodle.
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Visser the only help we want is to repatriate them or send them on to Brussels since the dicktators in Brussels alwasy say that immigrants are beneficial to the country, so let them enjoy the immigrants benefits.
il-bully a perfect analysis of the Syrian situation.
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Dr Muscat might have lost a number of points when he appointed Lou Bondi on the National festivities board, but he surely re-gained and increased his score on such a sore issue. A hot potatoe handled with cotton gloves by the previous administration and the results are what they are, perhaps now its time to put on the boxing gloves and effectively challange this problem. Good luck Premier.
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Dr Joseph Muscat is sending the right message. Boat people are undesired. Quite a change from Dr Gonzi. But we still need to see results.
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There are no innocent sides in the Syrian conflict, at the core of this civil war is ethnic and religious issues. We should stay well away from this and let them fight it out.
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Dr. Muscat it is reported that you said this is a 'humanitarian crisis'.
This is part of the story, the fact is this is a sectarian power struggle involving Saudi Arabia and Iran or to simplify it better, it is between Shiite and Sunni they have contrasting believes and willing to die for their believes. For us to take sides it is like going between the onion and the peel, taking sides we are only making enemies. Thank God we are a neutral country let us keep it that way.
