PN, PL politicians in consensus over preservation of Schengen zone

The home affairs minister and the Opposition’s immigration spokesperson have both rejected a potential suspension of the EU Schengen agreement.

Speaking on Monday night’s edition of Reporter that dealt with Europe’s refugee crisis, Opposition MP and immigration spokesperson Francis Zammit Dimech vehemently rejected any changes to the EU’s border-free travel zone.

“I firmly believe in a Europe without frontiers,” Zammit Dimech said when asked by host Saviour Balzan on his opinion on the future of Schengen. “Europe needs to choose whether it wants to be a continent of border controls or a continent that shoulders collective responsibility.”

Home affairs minister Carmelo Abela was less forthcoming, twice diverting from the question by explaining that necessary checks are carried out at Schengen points of entry and that the Schengen agreement legally justified Germany’s recent imposition of border controls as a temporary emergency measure.

He later said that there is no need for the Schengen Zone to be suspended.

When questioned as to whether he is satisfied at Malta’s screening process for foreigners seeking residence on the island, Abela said that “the necessary checks” are carried out on everyone who applies for residence.

“The screening process is more rigorous now than it was under the previous administration, and we intend to keep on building on what we have already achieved,” he said.  

Peter Agius, head of the Maltese European Parliament office, warned that Europe is passing through a crisis of values.

“Although EU ministers have voted in favour of the relocation of asylum seekers amongst member states, Slovakia intends to challenge this decision in the European courts, and the Hungarian Prime Minister has ordered the construction of fences at the country’s border to keep immigrants out.

“Politics requires a consensus, and such actions display a lack of trust amongst European countries.”

‘Need for clear political leadership’

International relations university lecturer Carmen Sammut called on local politicians to increase their efforts at promoting integration.

“Mainstream politicians don’t want to invigorate the far right, and they must remain conscious of the fear amongst the public,” she said. “However, politicians have an enormous responsibility to bear with regards the promotion of integration and the tackling of ghettos.” 

Her call was echoed by Zammit Dimech, who argued that people find it much easier to air racist views when their political leaders adopt populist stances on immigration.

“At the start of its administration, Labour had adopted a populist stance in favour of pushbacks, and I am pleased that political maturity has prevailed,” the former foreign minister recounted. “Some people need to be guided by their political leaders, and they will be more likely to acquire a mature outlook on immigration if their politicians do so.”

Abela retorted that the government had adopted that stance at a time when immigration wasn’t on the European agenda and when Malta wasn’t receiving the “solidarity it had expected” from its fellow EU member states.