EU president tells MPs ‘Malta’s voice being heard’

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat addressed European Council president Herman van Rompuy today in a speech in the House of Representatives, calling for an effective system of solidarity on migration that can help Malta.

Muscat reiterated his mantra on the EU's quick action to bail out debt-ridden banks, saying that the response of member states towards the human tragedy taking place in the Mediterranean was a major shortcoming of member states.

"We must not only help these human beings physically, but also address the problems at the core, the origin," Muscat said

"With the Greek bailout, this House unanimously voted for 3% of its GDP to be used as aid. And that's why we feel abandoned, because the Maltese helped others, but when asking for help, the Maltese found none."

In a concession to the Belgian, Muscat told Van Rompuy that he had all the EU member states to give his attention, but that Malta had already advanced itself as an interlocutor with Libya. "For the first time, you saw the concrete willingness of Libya to work towards a long-term solution that does not put a burden on others," Muscat said, who wants to place Libya and the Mediterranean on the agenda of Malta's 2017 president of the EU.

Muscat said the Armed Forces of Malta were currently monitoring the Maltese shores as some 500 migrants were in transit.

"This is a human tragedy which Malta cannot be left alone to face. You were prepared to listen to us, but financial aid alone is not going to solve our problems.

"The EU must understand that coordinated effort is needed. We will continue to show solidarity but we will not remain quiet either," Muscat told Van Rompuy.

The Prime Minister lamented that when it came to international media, they were all too happy to focus on the banking crisis but ignored the plight of solidarity on migration.

Taking cue from Pope Francis' comments over the "globalisation of indifference" Muscat announced plans to bring migration on the agenda when he meets his Italian counterpart Enrico Letta next Monday.

On his part, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil paid tribute to a Maltese identity that valued tolerance and aid towards foreigners in need. "We refute xenophobia and racism, and we hold our humanity dear because human rights are universal... we are proud to be Maltese, to be European, because the EU is an instrument of unity."

Striking a position at loggerheads with Muscat's choice of action, Busuttil said he believed in the force of reason as against the right to veto EU laws.

But he also told Van Rompuy that Malta was carrying alone the duty to save lives at sea, without being shown concrete assistance that went beyond financial aid.

"Mr Van Rompuy, you must intervene so that this burden is shared among member states, and to see that solidarity mechanism are employed. This side of the House will support the government in seeking that the EU shows its solidarity, along as human rights are adhered to, Busuttil said, adding that this would show Europe was "for all".

In his address delivered earlier on, Van Rompuy praised Malta's role in assisting Libya and its "unrivalled participation" in EU affairs.

"Malta has been shielded from the worst of the economic crisis... but you stood by the eurozone's members and together we faced existential threats."

Van Rompuy called for Malta's cooperation in addressing challenges to stimulate job creation, the pension bomb, competitiveness issues, and to stave off the banking crisis, as well as ensuring sustainable energy solutions.

Turning to migration, the EU president acknowledged Malta's struggle with migration.

"Money alone does not solve this problem... we have to deal with this problem in a humane yet effective way. I know the people of Malta agree. Malta's voice is being heard today."

The wake of the Arab Spring, he said, has led to a relative surge of arrivals, in Malta and in some other European member states.

"As Europeans, we are well placed to know that political change doesn't happen painlessly or overnight. We know about long transitions, and that progress only comes with countless steps. So as each country in the Maghreb and the Middle-East region charts its own course, as each population strives to realise its aspirations, the European Union is committed to staying by their side every step along the way," he said.

Describing Malta as the "voice for the Mediterranean", the President said Malta would remain an active partner in the region.

Van Rompuy played on Malta's history to remind the House of Representatives that the country had "earned a reputation not just as a beautiful island but also as a caring nation".

Praising Malta's financial stability, Van Rompuy recognised the country's efforts in standing by other members of the Eurozone.

"Together, we managed to defeat the existential threats to the eurozone; it is no small achievement. Of course, sharing a currency means much more than sharing banknotes and coins:  all euro countries share jointly the responsibility for the euro area as a whole," he said.