Sunday, 28th September 2008
An admission of failure?
The issue of how Malta is being swamped by wave after wave of illegal immigrants is too sensitive and too nationally important to be made a partisan political football.
Despite this, one cannot but reflect and wonder why on Thursday the Nationalist government was boasting that it had achieved a significant victory in making the other EU member states accept the principle of burden sharing while on Friday the Prime Minister was telling the United Nations General Assembly that Malta was carrying more than its fair share in dealing with this problem.
As The Times pointed out in its front page report on last Thursday’s EU council of justice ministers meeting, the EU accepted the principle of burden sharing. However, as The Times itself reported the Immigration Pact only states that:
"For those member states, which are faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their national asylum systems, due in particular to their geographical or demographic situation, solidarity shall also aim to promote, on a voluntary and co-ordinated basis, better re-allocation of beneficiaries of international protection from such member states to others, while ensuring that asylum systems are not abused.
"In accordance with those principles, the Commission, in consultation with the UNHCR where appropriate, will facilitate such voluntary and coordinated re-allocation. Specific funding under existing EU financial instruments should be provided for this re-allocation, in accordance with budgetary procedures."
All day Friday, through its media, the Nationalist government made the most of this and presented this as a great victory for its diplomacy and its EU policy.
However, on Friday, in New York, the Prime Minister was telling the United Nations General Assembly, according to The Times, that the immigration problem, “is so acutely disproportionate to the size of the country and its population".
The Prime Minister continued saying that,
"I must highlight the unprecedented increase in the influx of irregular immigrants that have been arriving in Malta mainly from the African continent. It is for this reason that Malta has continuously requested assistance in tackling this problem through the principles of solidarity and sharing of responsibilities from Europe and other countries as well as from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Malta is grateful to those countries that have come forward to assist us in coping with this phenomenon. Nevertheless, much more needs to be done by us all, including the countries of origin and the countries of transit."
The tone here is totally different to that of triumphalism we witnessed on the Government’s and PN’s media claiming that Malta had scored a major victory in making the EU accept the principle of burden sharing. The Prime Minister was clearly saying that nice words and promises of solidarity were clearly not enough and that more tangible steps need to be taken by the international community in order to deal with the problem of immigration.
Coming so close to the triumphalism witnessed here after the text of the EU’s Immigration Pact was published one wonders whether Dr Gonzi’s comments at the UN were not, after all, an admission of failure?
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Comments
"Does this mean that Britain distancing itself from the Euro zone may present a threat to Europe as it makes it less difficult to go to war with its EU Partners?"
No
You both are right.....it's the old two-sided coin.
Nearly all countries have "Unity" as their logo.
Napoleon & also Hitler & Co. tried it in their twisted ways.
Free trade as well is "unity" with a prospect .....well being for all.
Has the Euro brought more prosperity ?
I am pretty ignorant but , I think , it has been a "silent back door " devaluation that has hit ( as usual ) the working classes.
The Euro WAS made "drab" ( arches,bridges, fading long distance map of Europe ,etc ) to remind people it is a "stew".....we are ( from Finland to Portugal ) ALL "United" are we not ?
So , like it or not , it's stew ALL the way !
Was it not better IF Europe stuck to free trade & stewed stew according to National tastes ?
Of course not......the boys in Bruxelles need to appear creative....is that not ALSO a form of "Unity" ?
“The common European currency was created to bring all European economies closer to each other and thus make it even more difficult, if not impossible, for one country to go to war with its neighbours.” Does this mean that Britain distancing itself from the Euro zone may present a threat to Europe as it makes it less difficult to go to war with its EU Partners? Sounds like ‘The pact of Steel’ part two.
The common European currency was created to bring all European economies closer to each other and thus make it even more difficult, if not impossible, for one country to go to war with its neighbours.
This may seem exaggerated now but when the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1958, Europe had recently come out of WW2 and was divided by the Iron Curtain. There is no doubt that one of the major aims of the founding fathers of the EU was the avoidance of any future European wars.
Concerning the Euro= I married in Luxembourg , my wife worked for the BNP.......I am not completely green regarding the Euro.
What I can say is that life , in general , shot up after the Euro creation.....more or less in every Euro country. I don't think Malta is or will be, an exception.
The Euro was created , I think , without consulting the electorate in any country.
It was an invention by the Eurocrats. The EU in Bruxelles( and Luxembourg for that matter )is full of a bunch of loafers who had better stick to deciding the size & shapes of bananas
( which they did ) . Their next move most likely is telling Malta to drop the dot after decimals and coma after thousands ( horrible old Anglo-Saxon system ).....twist them around instead,
you see EuroLand has to be different. Most MEP are discarded politicians with great innovative ideas. I am not trying to be funny.....that's what most people think.
Did really Malta need to put its "eggs" in one basket with the big boys ?
I hope I am wrong & you are right for Malta's sake.
The euro replaced the National currency because it was on the government's agenda.
There was no devaluation at all and the conversion rate was fixed well in advance of conversion date.
I have no exact information regarding wages in the eurozone and yes, prices have gone up. Last year the government gave a cost of living raise across the board.
2 odd euros do not buy as much as 1 Maltese lira. That is correct because 1 lira = e2.33 and e2.33 buy less than e2.00.
Forget the Maltese lira. It does not exist any more. You must now compare the British sterling to the euro and vice versa.
The 'basket' contained the value of several currencies not eggs. Those currencies traded on International markets. The Maltese lira did not.
The Central Bank no longer makes conversions not because they are difficult to make but you cannot convert something into the same thing. Therefore since the euro is a COMMON currency within the eurozone, the Maltese euro is the same euro as the Italian, German etc.
Thanks for your explanations....they make sense to a point =
How come the Euro has replaced National currencies ?
Is it possible it was a devaluation through the back-door ?
Wages have hardly gone up in all Euro countries.....prices have !
Friends in Malta tell me the 2. odd Euros do not seem to buy as much as the Malta Lira did.
You have explained the Central Bank of Malta was just a figure head.
Wonder why the Malta Lira became worth GBP 1.50 ......was it the ECB ?
Was it the "basket" of currencies that did it ? - Why put all eggs in one basket now ?
Difficult Convertions ? I don't think so , Central Bank of Malta was second to none at it......no need for the ECB to do its work instead.
You see......I think the two-sided coin still applies.
The Maltese lira's value was established by comparing it to a basket of currencies - the direction they went, so did the lira. The Central Bank had no control on the fluctuation of those currencies, therefore, although the picture of the currency was different than what appears on the euro, the Central Bank's influence was minimal, if any. As a matter of fact, because the value of the lira was not widely recognized, the Central Bank had to hold much larger reserves than it needs to now. The euro is backed by the ECB which is one less headache for the Central Bank.
By euroland, I presume, you mean eurozone. In that case Malta is at an advantage because no currency conversion has to take place. Outside the eurozone, the euro is generally accepted but converted to local currencies first. Nothing different than having a Maltese lira abroad - anywhere.
When a British travel agency advertises in sterling, it is because it is a currency easily recognised in Britain, however, I suspect that a built in foreign exchange fee is already included in the price!
I wouldn’t put it passed any Nationalist supporter to deny a documented fact that Nerik Mizzi, the champion of Maltese nationalism, as well as Mabel Strickland, were also of the opinion that Malta needed to integrate with another country to survive. Mizzi’s choice was Italy.
Prior to WW1 Nerik Mizzi an irredentist like Gabiriele D"Annuznio and who later became one of Mussolini's Cabinet Ministers, in 1912 proposed in an article published in Rassegna Contemporanea that the British Government should cede Malta to Italy, and in exchange Britain should get Eritrea.
The 1930s saw Mizzi change his mind and silently rolling his drum to declare his new proposal for Dominion Status. Some U-turns are made in heaven.
Mabel Strickland’s choice was Britain, but let’s talks about Mizzi’s idea for now. Sweeping statements would be politely ignored, sorry Signor Martinelli.
But it's like a coin....two side to it.
Malta Lira or Euro what's the difference.
Malta Hotel advertisements in the UK are quoted in Sterling.
Same could apply to to Euroland.
Trade with Euroland ? Same as trade with Non Euro countries.
The one thing that , to my limited intelligence , is not correct is that the ECB in Frankfurt tells Malta what to do.....raise , lower rates & so on.
The Central Bank of Malta is not anymore what it was created to be.
Of course Malta is somewhat Europe - With a difference (such as all the Maltese in English speaking Nations) - Apart from the "elite" , most Maltese know more about Australia , U.K.
or Canada than next door Italy ......I , for one , know Continental Europe quite well....yet I feel
more at home in Cyprus ( becouse they drive on the left or uniforms are similiar to Malta's ? ) than in , say , Greece.
Please don't say.... Cyprus is in the same Euroland that we are in.....Obvious reasons.
Am I an old sentimental old man.....could be.
1. Your first question cannot be answered so soon after conversion, but one thing which is without question is that doing business with eurozone countries suddenly became much easier and substantially less expensive since it is no longer necessary to convert currencies.
2. There was nothing wrong with the Maltese lira as such, except once you left Malta's shores no one knew what to do with it. It was virtually unknown elsewhere and no one could understand the fluctuation even if it was calculated on a basket of currencies.
3. It seems that since conversion, the number of tourists have indeed increased although it is hard to prove that this had anything to do with the euro.
4. The financial crisis started in the United States. Unfortunately it is filtering down to Europe and beyond. It may affect Malta to a lesser degree.
5 Quibbling is Malta's national pastime as I suspect is also elsewhere. It is a byproduct of a high density population small land mass and a mentality which has yet to adjust to being part of a continent called Europe.
Are people in Malta experiencing more prosperity since the introduction of the Euro ?
I wish somebody explains to me what was wrong with the Malta Lira ....less attractive
to look at with Malta views ? . Is the Euro more so with the obverse of arches , bridges & such like - the reverse with a long distand fading map of Europe ?
Has the Euro attracted more tourists to Malta ?
If the idea was an United Europe...look at the present financial crisis...not much Unity is there?
Free trade Malta......free trade with the whole world......Malta is small yet the perfect link
for the big boys to meet. - Thanks to the English language & Anglo-Saxons institutions
inherited , Malta can make better than others - PN - MLP ,etc stop quibbling just be MALTESE.
Your comment contains so many inaccuracies, a whole volume would not be sufficient to rebut each and every one of them.
Your memory is very sketchy, biased and spun.
If someone else wants to do battle with you - I let them be my guests but your outright contempt of anyone the least indignant for your model Dom Mintoff is just plainly regrettable.
By the way, the Independence constitution had nothing to do with the Malta Labour Party.
Nerik Mizzi and GBO both aspired for some form of independence from Britain, while the MLP was still harping about Integration which would have given us two or three lonely voices in a 360 House of Commons!
But then the MLP have a history of U turns - from Integration to outright Independence, from anti-EU to EU hugging, from no to the Euro to accepting the euro, and finally from realizing, in hindsight of course, that the pro-EU referendum was won by progressive pro-EU voters and not by those who were all pumped up and plied the streets only to retreat into their shells.
Can the MLP ever get anything right the first time?
Habib when we were going through this martyrdom your heroes were sipping Gin with Michael Gonzi, Mabel Strickland and the HAFMED Commanders at the NATO- HQ in Floriana.
On Saturday 8 April 1961 our benevolent church awarded us with the infamous Interdict with its attendant fears to see a haemorrhage of strong Labour supporters abandoning the party to save their souls.
When the Colonial office was satisfied that its plan to weaken Labour worked they gave us the Black February Constitution and on 17\19 February 1962, 90% of the 166934 over 21 year old eligible voters went to the polls. The PN garnered 63262 votes\25 seats, Labour 50,974\16 seats, Pellegrini 14285\4 seats, Ganado 13968\4 seats and Mabel Strickland 7290\1 seat.
The wind of change was blowing and Britain was aware that Malta, in the end, had to go and now that Labour was weak and the Government was at the churches mercy the British Government saw it a golden opportunity to send for GBO and offered him a hybrid Independence on silver platter. And GBO came home smelling of roses and feeling Victorious while we cried. That was the Independence that was.
.Next item Economy.
.Independence, EU membership and joining the Euro zone are significant milestones even in Labour’s eyes. The controversial issue is Independence. Trust you still remember the old Maltese saying ‘Marzu jghaqqad il fjuri w April jiehu l-unuri’. Marzu-the Labour Party, l-ghaqqda tal-fjurijuri-the struggle, l-unuri- the signing of the Independence Constitution.
Nerik Mizzi dreamt about a quasi Dominion Status but never did anything about it, the romantic George Borg-Olivier and half his PN also wanted a quasi Dominion Status and we all know how strong they were in their campaign to get us there. When Mintoff started leading an effective struggle in 1958 Gonzi, strongly supported by the PN, scared the people that with Independence we wouldn’t have Britain to defend us against Mintoff. After the historical ‘Break with Britain Resolution’ the MLP enjoyed the strongest popular support ever and the fight escalated to see young men and Labour Leaders beaten up by Vivian De gray’s Police, arrested and sent to prison. At a tender age of 14 I experienced real police brutality and arrest.
Here’s a translation for the benefit of those who do not understand our language. All reference to ‘I’ denotes Joseph Muscat.
“Some people tried to label us racist. Then the same individuals started twisting their own statement and claimed that I voted in favour of granting the voting right to immigrants. It was evidently clear that, through that manner, they were appealing to the racists’ sentiment.
The way this story developed was interesting. Initially they started saying that I voted in favour of giving the voting right to the ILLEGAL immigrants and when they realised that somebody had pulled a fast one on them they dropped the word ‘ILLEGAL’ hoping that the public would not realise the difference.
The facts are that I voted in favour of granting non Europeans(Americans,Africans,Australians etc.) that LEGALLY reside( migrated legally, are in possession of all the required permits, and pay taxes) the right to vote to elect the LOCAL COUNCILS.”
Personal note. The PN Government had in fact given that right to the non Maltese residents even before we joined the EU.
Seven days ago you made this statement. Quote “Joseph Muscat used his measly vote at the EU to support his Socialist Friends to try and extend voting rights to immigrants.” Unquote. I had then assured you that when the time is ripe I will give you my reaction; here’s the answer straight from the horse’s mouth.
Quote “X’uħud ippruvaw jilagħbu l-logħba li jgħajjruna razzisti. Imbagħad l-istess uħud bdew jilagħbu bil-kliem meta qalu li jien ivvutajt biex jingħata d-dritt tal-vot lill-immigranti. Kienu qiegħdin jappellaw b’mod ċar għas-sentiment razzista b’dik it-tattika.
Kien interessanti ukoll kif żviluppat din l-istorja. L-ewwel bdew jgħidu li kont ivvutajt favur il-vot lill-immigranti ILLEGALI. X’ħin indunaw li xi ħadd kien bellagħhielhom u li r-rapport ma kienx jgħid hekk, waqqgħu il-kelma “illegali” u ħallewha immigrant, bit-tama li l-pubbliku ma jindunax bid-differenza.
Il-fatti huma li jien ivvutajt favur li persuni mhux Ewropej (Amerikani, Afrikani, Awstraljani, eċċ.) li jkunu joqogħdu f’pajjiż Ewropew b’mod LEGALI (ikunu daħlu legalment fil-pajjiż, ikollhom il-permessi kollha u jħallsu t-taxxi) jingħataw id-dritt għall-vot fil-KUNSILLI LOKALI.
Imma l-aqwa li ngħatat it-tidwira li kien hemm bżonn!” unquote.
My criticism for Dom amounts to more than 200 words can accommodate but suffice it is to say that I regard him as one who has divided our nation and had no foresight when planning economic policies except what was absolutely essential in the very short term.
I am not going into the merits of Nerik Mizzi, GBO, EFA and Gonzi because whatever I attribute to them including Independence, EU membership and joining the eurozone, in Labour's eyes are insignificant milestones.
The PN opposed some of the social schemes not because they necessarily disagreed but that they considered, rightly or wrongly, that the timing was not right but Dom steamrolled them, some say thankfully so, without regard to advice given or to alternatives.
There, Charles, I think I have applied enough grist to the mill - now it's your turn to comment.
They all had their fair share of mistakes, some small some horrendous and I am by no means excluding Mintoff.Mintoff was larger than life when it came to oratory and charisma but he seriously lacked good manners and finesse.
On the other hand you may have good reasons to pontificate Nerik Mizzi,GBO,EFA and Gonzi, I respect your opinion but I would have difficulties to agree with you.
I had applauded Mintoff and disliked GBO and EFA’s during their reigns but today I will not be happy with Dom as the situation has changed. I do not dislike Gonzi I think he’s a jolly old chap but sadly his approach to solving problems and his socio-political policies leave much to be desired.
As further proof for my honesty, I am ashamed to admit that in the very unlikely event that the PN changes I will still find it well neigh impossible to give them my vote. I am no floating voter, my heart beats on the left and I am a true loyalist to the Labour Party. Hit me, kick me, oppose my spiritual sentiments but please respect my intelligence and values.
Quote. I would NEVER place Dom on any of my favourite persons list.
And you know (and secretly understand) why. You just cannot find the strength to admit it. Unquote.
Joe I think that my answer to your question is a simple one- the reason why you do not consider Dom as one of your favourites, equates to the lack of admiration I have for Nerik Mizzi,EFA, and Laurence Gonzi, I am a Social Democrat and you are a Christian Democrat.At least we are both democratic. Lol
I wouldn’t use Mintoff’s yesteryears theories to solve today’s socio-political problems inasmuch as I wouldn’t use my mother’s yesteryear’s advice today to cure a pain or a common cold. A political approach, like medicine and the people’s mentality, changes through the evolution of times. Leaders of political parties become great when they take the pragmatic way because dogmatism only leads to stagnation. Yes Joe, nothing has yet changed my strong conviction that Sir Gerald Strickland, Paul Boffa and Dom Mintoff were the pioneers of progress and social justice in Malta while the PN opposed most of those values. I will support this statement with facts in another contribution.
A poll is a snapshot statistic.
Statistics are subject to interpretation.
The way I read the Times poll you quoted:
1.7% - are foreigners who do not have to care.
6.1% - are truthful - they do not understand and rightly said so.
14.3% - are good candidates for a diplomatic position. They understand what it takes to turn
around 26 heads of states to see Malta's point.
77.8% - are those who even if capable of understanding, close their eyes and ears and
automatically assume that if the government proposes or does something, it must
be wrong.
But even if the poll truly reflects the intelligentsia's opinion, can we at least agree that this agreement is much better than none? If this agreement was not possible, would our situation be any better? Surely with this agreement in place it cannot become worse.
I have read several fairy tales in my much younger years and unless my memory is failing me, I don't quite remember a fairy with a tail. Maybe 77.8% have come across one?
OK, OK that was tongue in cheek.
Not quite yet, since you are sounding close to being a Nazzjonalist!! hehe.
Charles, I never criticize those who have opposing views or support another political party. The world would be so boring if it were painted in one colour. I like common sense with a dash of logic and occasionally a little controversy. These are essential ingredients which stimulates one's mind.
What I detest most strongly are the ones who either twist the truth, flatly misinform for political gain and who, after much criticism refuse to offer workable ideas.
There you go Charles, I cannot find reason to argue with anything you wrote, this time, and you guessed it, I would NEVER place Dom on any of my favourite persons list.
And you know (and secretly understand) why. You just cannot find the strength to admit it.
Poll
Are you satisfied with the Immigration Pact agreed in the EU?
no 77.8%
yes 14.3%
don't know 6.1%
don't care 1.7%
Total votes: 4302
Having said that I do not think that we have reached Utopia and that Big Brother would nurse our wounds while we sit pretty. Each and every EU State has to stand up for their rights, privileges and solidarity, this need is more relevant to us because we are the smallest state and metaphorically speaking ‘small fry’
Joe I hope that after this you will agree with me that I am truly a broad minded individual although at times I demonstrate the opposite. Isn’t that a general inclination though my friend?
I would now like to see some intelligent debate on this post but will ignore the snipe remarks of the the smart- alecks.
Over to you now Joe,let’s have some fun.
Joe my enthusiasm to see Malta integrated with Britain was stemmed out of this conviction and in a way, which takes long to explain, I saw the same opportunities with Independence. As a colony we had no choice, Independence gave us the freedom to align ourselves and grow with other European Nations, Mintoff chose the non- aligned- block but I disagreed, KMB campaigned for closer relations with ‘Maghreb’ and I wasn’t ecstatic about his idea Essentially our routes are Phoenicians but our culture, religion and natural inclinations are European. I also dreamt of a European Federation and I’m still dreaming.
During the accession campaign I became sceptical as I didn’t feel that we were prepared to join the EU at that juncture and would have preferred to go only for the first phase i.e. the ‘Partnership’.
We are there now and I think that we are doing relatively OK and wouldn’t entertain the notion of going back now that we had overcome the initial difficulties.
Sir Winston Churchill, JFK, Margret Thatcher, Abraham Lincoln, Jean Monnet and Dom Mintoff are but a few of my political heroes, I do not think that you share my enthusiasm for Dom but probably you also admire the rest. Judging by the enthusiasm I see in you about the EU I am sure that the admiration for Jean Monnet is mutual.
Monnet was firm in his conviction that the European nations had to unite in order to survive; there is no future for the people of Europe other than in union. Throughout his life, he had one objective: to make men work together shows them that beyond their differences and geographical boundaries there lies a common interest.
Been a while since we exchanged some pleasantries.
You wrote: 'small fry for our major partners in Brussels'.
You often describe yourself as a broad minded individual however at times you demonstrate the opposite.
Don't you agree that joining the EU was the right move for Malta? Even anti-EU Joseph has miraculously changed his views (thank God!) but somehow you still remain skeptical.
I'll give you four and a half years and by then you will probably get to support Joseph's views.
As long as I am in piece with those who are around me and dearest to me, I am always happy.
Thirdly; "Malta, a member of a club called EU,..."
It is for this very good reason that Malta could turn to the EU and insists for help. If Malta wasn't in the EU, THEN WE WILL BE ON OUR OWN TO FACE THIS TRAGEDY OF ILLEGAL/IRREGULAR IMMIGRATI0N. For the reason that you yourself stated "As any other country in the world Malta has a right to accept or reject any other national.." Malta could not have had the world "mandatory" instead of "voluntary" inserted in the Agreement.
By signing the agreement the EU Member States are for the very first time recognising the fact that Malta is being over burdend by illegal/'irregular immigration and have agreed to offer help.
Firstly; You Kindly wrote; "As any other country in the world Malta has a right to accept or reject any other national seeking permanent or temporary residence on its territory...."
Finally, you came around to my point that no country accepts immigrants on a mandatory basis, but reserve the right to accpet or reject any national
Secondly; "Our fellow club members insist that we must honour our obligation mandatorily yet they are shrinking the limits of their obligation not to share the weight which stems out of the attendant burden"
No Country, whether in the EU or outside of the EU, is forcing Malta to accept or reject any immigrants. Malta have no choice but to take in anyone that is in distress in it's territorial seas. Malta's obbligation to do so is because Malta is a signatore of certain International Treaties. If you are suggesting that Malta should give up it's territorial seas that fell under her juristiction and to co-opt of Treaties, then you should be honest enough and say so.
Perhaps a better start should be for the USA not to be shortsighted and stop backing Dictactors and Rebels around the world.
Get up, get out, and get active because Big Brother is too busy trying to solve his own problems. Malta is first and foremost only for us, small fry for our major partners in Brussels. Wakey, wakey its time to pull our socks up cause there isn’t anybody else to do it for us.
What you and the other nay sayers are dictacting is that Malta should embark on the Dark Days of Maltese Foriegn Policy practised by Dom Mintoff that left Malta isolated. The only friendly Nations that Malta had in those days where the most undemocratic and barbaric Regimes on Earth. Goals are not achieved by thumping one's feet, putting a gun to one's head or by shredding Treaties, but through Diplomacy. Unfortunately, Diplomacy does take time.
I read your petition and I agree with most of it. In fact had you not included the last sentence, I would have signed it.
Urging Malta to withdraw from treaties and other agreements is impossible to do and will impact Malta's reputation internationally.
Of course the EU should put more pressure on Libya but am I mistaken or did the Italian Prime Minister not pay (or promised to) Libya some 6 billion euros as compensation for the years of Italian colonial rule? Did Lampedusa not receive the largest number of illegal immigrants in one day, just a week or two after Berlusconi opened his vault to the Libyans?
Is this not sending mixed signals to Libya which is using these political maneuvers to its greatest advantage?
What kind of economic pressure can you impose on Libya? Not buy any oil from them? Then what? Only the Americans know how to cure their problem but at present they have their hands full in the wrong war.
Now watch the wrath of many descent upon me for even thinking the unthinkable. They are the ones who would damn the States for whatever it does or doesn't do.
OK, your advice along with many others, is for the government to vote against the 'voluntary burden sharing' pact. Then what?
In the absence of such an agreement, the situation will remain as it is today. There is no magic formula to change that.
Not signing will not reduce the number of illegal immigrants showing up in our waters. The problem does not lie on whether we sign the pact or not. The problem lies with Libya and with African countries which are run by dictators whose pockets come first even before caring for their starving population. What do you propose?
Is illegal immigration a burden on Malta? Of course it is, but then Malta endured five years of incessant bombings during a war which it was dragged into screaming and now we cannot be patient enough to see how the 'voluntary burden sharing' will work?
This blog and others bring out the worst out of many people and I hope, pray God, that what they write is not really what, deep inside, they feel and are using the media to vent out their sometimes selfish, political agenda.
The details about immigrants are all false because the situation is based on a lie and the numbers are thousands much larger. So, while everyone talks and signs fairy tale agreements,thousands keep entering our country.
The truth is that with wimps as politicians, this country is lost. Only true Nationalists can save this country. Strong ,hard and ruthless in defence of the nation.
Why we are getting our knickers in a twist about the application of burden sharing beats me. The interpretation is a very simple one and it’s not about imposition.
Malta, a member of a club called EU, is being burdened with an unsustainable number of illegal immigrants. As any other country in the world Malta has a right to accept or reject any other national seeking permanent or temporary residence on its territory but due to humanitarian reasons it doesn’t but it becomes a burden due to our natural limitations. Our fellow club members insist that we must honour our obligation mandatorily yet they are shrinking the limits of their obligation not to share the weight which stems out of the attendant burden. The rest is all academic.
“Where you lived doesn't really concern me neither do I care. The point is that you lived there at the prerogative and pleasure of that country and not as a right” Joe first you put my heart on full throttle with your terms of endearment and then you put it on reverse by telling me that you don’t care. That will do my heart no good my friend.
Seriously now tell us exactly what your point is and I will give it a shot. Maria... you are getting me so confused! Incidentally Joe I posted other comments but the caretaker of this blog declined them. Possibly because he is not aware that you have a good sense of humour.
"The point is that no country is mandated to take in any immigrants whether legal/irregular/illegal. Illegal/Irregular immigrants arrive at any given country by more than one means."
Ok. Agreed. However, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Why should Malta not have the option of sending back illegal immigrants when all other European countries seem to have the option of refusing them? Note that the authorities have no scruples with sending back, eg eastern Europeans who have overstayed their visa. I personally have a friend who was due to marry such an immigrant and yet he was mercilessly deported by the authorities resulting is years of struggle and expense for my friend who had to go to his country and marry him there, without her family in circumstances that were definitely not what she had always dreamt of. Only recently (about 4 months after the marriage) has he been given permission to come back to Malta.
So let's not be hypocrites. The authorities can be as callous as anything and when they quote moral reasons for doing what they're doing you can be sure that it's to pull the wool over your eyes.
The point is that no country is mandated to take in any immigrants whether legal/irregular/illegal. Illegal/Irregular immigrants arrive at any given country by more than one means. In Malta the overwhelming majority it is by sea. I think we all agree that Malta is not their country of choice. However because of the geographical position of Malta many end up here in Malta.
Immigration is still withen the juristiction of each individual country and the EU cannot dictate not tell what policy each member state to follow. This applies to any other country on earth. For the very first time the EU member Countries have accepted the concept of burden sharing in regards to irregular/illegal immigration. To date the member countries have/had no obligation of any sort in this regards. At least know there is a beam of light at the end of the tunnel. DO NOT TAKE ME WRONG, I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS THE SOLUTION,BUT THE BEGINNIG IN FINDING THAT SOLUTION.
IF MALTA HAD NOT JOINED THE EU, WE WOULD BE STRICLY ON OUR OWN TO DEAL WITH THIS GRAVE PROBLEM. These people would have still ended up on our shores.
If you do know how many illegal immigrants there really are in the USA I suggest you inform the American Authorities and this goes as well in regards to how many people that overstayed their visa? White, Black, Brown, Yellow and so on as you described them.
For your information neither I am happy nor do I welcome the illegal immigrants nor those who overstay their welcome in Malta. I also, realise that there is no easy solution to the problem. If there was I am sure the Government would have acted upon it. Common sense dictate so, why would the Government dig its' head in the sand, What I also believe is that the recent EU Immigration Initiative is the first step forward and not the answer to the problem.
Where you lived doesn't really concern me neither do I care. The point is that you lived there at the prerogative and pleasure of that country and not as a right.
@ Joe Vella.
1. “for your information immigration is still a national prerogative and not an EU
one”.Sorry, you lost me here Please be a trifle clearer.
2.”.compare oranges with oranges and not oranges with apples”. Its apples with apples and pears with pears.
3. “I believe you wrote that you lived oversees at sometime, my question to you is did the receiving country took as it was your right to go there or it was totally at that Country's discretion”(sic).
Looks like there are two Lallujiet in Mellieha as I was never an immigrant of any country. I lived in England for a spell but not as an immigrant. I also lived in S.Africa, USA, Australia, Canada, N.Africa, Russia and the Fiji Islands but my papers were always in order and were never a burden to other countries. Except to Malta.lol.
Now see if you can find the other Lallu and redirect your question to him.
I am really enjoying this Joe, please don’t leave me on hold, you are sooo funny and so full of spunk God bless you.
"Let's take, for example a question posed by A Vella, namely, ""Can anyone of you mention one country in the world that takes in any type of Immigrants on a mandatory/compulsary basis?"
One curt reply was: Malta.
Wrong again. How about Italy and Spain?"
I simply replied to the question. Does Malta have a choice regarding the wave of immigration? No. Can Malta choose which immigrants to accept and which ones to reject? No.
A Vella asked for one country. I gave it to him. That does not preclude there being others, but surely it is obvious that Malta is at a gross disadvantage with regards to immigration policy with respect to most other European states
?
Mr Vella what I'm trying to say I had freedom of movement within our states, by the way illegal immigrants have the same freedom of movement. Why can't the EU have that same freedom of movement. Why can't Malta demand that from the EU. They can, they refuse to, again its because of people like you. This is why the Maltese government refuse to demand such freedom of movement. Is it because the EU want to cherry pick their residence, while Malta has to go and pluck out everybody from the sea. The EU demands us to pluck them out. Please MR Vella open up your eyes.
for your information immigration is still a national prerogative and not an EU one.
So if you want to give comparisons, compare oranges with oranges and not oranges with apples.
Full marks for you as well. Well simple minds have demonstrated that complex solutions can be solved by thumping of feet as Denis Catania suggested or by waving some kindf of a waving magic wand like many of you suggested.
I believe you wrote that you lived oversees at sometime, my question to you is did the receiving country took as it was your right to go there or it was totally at that Country's discretion.
Let's take, for example a question posed by A Vella, namely, ""Can anyone of you mention one country in the world that takes in any type of Immigrants on a mandatory/compulsary basis?"
One curt reply was: Malta.
Wrong again. How about Italy and Spain?
Malta does receive a number of immigrants disproportionate to its population and size and I suppose it could send patrol boats to turn back these boatloads of immigrants, but how? Sink them and let the occupants perish? Fuel up the boats and tell them to return to where they came from ? What guarantee is there that these same people will not reappear a day or so later?
Malta receives these immigrants on a humanitarian basis and also, in strict observance of International law.
Instead of damning the ' voluntary burden sharing agreement' why not give it a chance to work?
Continued...
In any country, immigration, the legal type, is strictly on a voluntary basis. So much so, that the practice is very discriminatory in nature but no country is ever censored. On the other hand anyone can show up at any airport or any other passenger landing point and immediately shout "political asylum". The system allows such an illegal immigrant to stay, in detention, on a temporary basis until his/her claim is evaluated. Is this not what Malta is doing?
By virtue of the agreement with the other 26 EU states, the burden we carry will be shared, on a voluntary basis by the others. In other words, they can pick and choose who they take. Is this not much better than not having the agreement at all?
Who is naive enough to think that if Malta refuses to sign and insists that the word 'voluntary' be removed from the text, that other members will even bother?
Maybe some wish that the signing be postponed until 2013 when renewed hopes see Joseph, as Prime Minister, the redeemer, able to wrestle the EU into submission and get them to remove the nasty word 'voluntary' from the text.
Dream on.
@ Denis Catania. Full marks for your answer.
@ Etienne Bonanno. Spot on but you only get 99% points
@ Joe Vella. Full marks for your vigilant enthusiasm to make us laugh.
EU essentially is all about playing on a level playground all abiding to a set of rules and all sharing the same rights, privileges, obligations and responsibilities .The sharing of all states of one state’s burdens should equate favourable to the sharing of responsibility, a perfect world if really put to practice, sounds like international socialism, but our world is imperfect.
During the EU campaign in Malta we were led to believe that the EU would be our Big Brother in a positive sense and the majority voted PN and the rest of us were sceptical about it. Now together we need to face the realities.
Organisation members are frequently reminded of their collective responsibilities and obligations and are not allowed other options, typical are the EU Bird Directive 1979 and our problem to privatise the Dockyard; however rights and privileges are a different ball game, you got to pull your socks up and go out to get them and that is where our government failed
"Thanks for the joke. Just confirmed not only you have no answer, but also that you have lost your argument. "
My dear Joe, I had no argument with you. It is usually people who start hurling abuse such as "idiot as**s" that have lost an argument.
Thaks for the joke. Just confirmed not only you have no answear, but also that you have lost your argument.
@ Denis Catania
I believe that you mentioned you are a son of Maltese immigrants that immigrated to the USA . Your parents were able to immigrate to the USA at the descretion of the USA Government and not becauset the USA was mandated to do so by treaty. Immigration always was understood by the recieving Country to be on a voluntary basis and at its' sole descreation.
To have for the very first time the UE Member States to acknowledge this in an official document is indeed a GIANT STEP FORWARD for Malta.
If you want to be funny, Then I must suggest it is the USA where you live and proud of. The problem unlike Malta, the USA doesn't know how many illegal Immigrants there are in the USA, At least from that point Malta is a step ahead of the USA when it coes of how many illegal immigrants there are.
@ Etienne Bonanno & Dennis 'Catania
"Can anyone of you mention one country in the world that takes in any type of Immigrants on a mandatory/compulsary basis?"
Malta.
In 1994, Germany proposed a system of physical dispersal of illegal immigrants, under which people would be dispersed among EU countries based on criteria of population, GDP, and size of the country. The proposal was rejected in this form, but a watered-down version did feature in subsequent EU legislation on temporary protection. This version called for states to take into account that responsibility for temporary protection seekers should be "shared on a balanced basis in a spirit of solidarity."
I have one question to all of you who have spoken against the EU Immigration Pact and h ve objected so strongly for the word voluntary being inserted in the text. Of which i believe it is being taken out of context and minintrepted what in mean. The question is this?
Can anyone of you mention one country in the world that takes in any type of Immigrants on a mandatory/compulsary basis?
@ Joe Vella .
Quote”Are you losing it? Il-Lallu to me is a Maltese expression nothing more nothing less” unquote. I will allow other people to be the judges of that.
This may sound silly however for what it’s worth one may give it some thought.
I had an old friend for tea, an international lawyer from abroad who spent a lifetime defending different oil rigging firms on issues dealing with territorial waters as well as SAR Zones. He insists that governments may legitimately reduce their allocated area of responsibility when they cannot afford to maintain the SAR Zone effectively. He also insists that by doing so countries would not lose any rights derived from their larger territorial waters. Or something to this effect.
I am not so naive to even think that this may be the answer to our current difficulties with the boat people but it would do us no harm if our authorities give this a thought after all other crazy notions have been tried.
Are you losing it? Il-Lallu to me is a Maltese expression nothing more nothing less.
@ Joe Vella.
My difficulties arose when I tried to make some sense out of your syntax “IL- Lallu, You come across as a person that knows of what is going on around him. You probably meant, ‘Il-lallu, you came out looking like a person who knows what is going-on around you!’
I do not know everything that goes on about-me and very little what is printed in your PN Media but since you mentioned something which appears to be interesting I would check it out and revert in due course. Il-lallu ballu, I hope it would not turn out to be something similar to your illusionary sighting of the Chinese building a bridge to Gozo. He he he. Il-lallu, that was a very good one indeed. Thanks a bunch for the chuckle.
@ Joe Vella. It did not take me long to decipher your motive behind your constant use of the exclamatory phrase ‘il-Lallu’, our playful indication of surprise, misfortune, or insult. Since you were too shy to expose your petty mentality I will do that for you.
Lallu is a nickname which was given to me by my late mother as a term of endearment; my wife, our children and friends also call me Lallu and I love it as to me it demonstrates affection. And you, a fellow Melliehi, poor chap is using a term of endearment to insult me. You need some help.
Your body is in the US but your mind is still lurking in the darkest depths of Ghar Dalaam.
All these years in America have not taught you anything.
IL- Lallu, You come across as a person that knows of what is going on around him. To help you out you might want to check the following: , I am referring to the "own initiative" report moved by Giusto Catania (Partito Rifondazione Comunista) on the 17 January 2008 which had pushed to expand VOTING and PERMANENT RESIDENCE rights of immigrants in the EU. Out of the five Maltese MEP, Joseph Muscat and Mr, Grech voted in favour of the report.
As to the definition of this issue, there are more than one surrounding this crises one of which being the sad circumstances that are instrumental to the exodus of Africans from their homeland, that is not a political issue. On the other hand there is no consensus on the way it needs to be managed to minimise our difficulties emanating from their migration to our land; that is a political issue.
A Political issue is something that the government is discussing or considering taking action about. Usually, political parties have different views about whether the issue is good or bad.
As to your cynical reference to Muscat’s friends I sincerely hope that you are intelligent enough and not so distractive, as some others, to classify PES as your enemies.
If Joseph Muscat was just one measly vote at the EU, why should we bother to elect these MEP. However, Joseph Muscat used his measly vote at the EU to support his Socialist Friends to try and extend voting rights to immigrants. I ask, have Joseph Muscat taken the issue of illegal immigration with his socialts friends and ask them to come out in unity and support Maltas' position. YOU BET HE DIDN'T. WHAT I REFUSE TO DO IS TO GET INVOLVED IN AN ISSUE THAT A POLITICAL ENTTITY TURNS IT INTO A POLITICAL ONE, WHEN IT SHOULDN'T.
Who is to decide that Malta cannot afford to take more refugees from other EU countries? Malta itself? In that case other countries would also have the right to decide whether they can afford to take 'our' refugees. They might be less crowded than Malta but everyone has problems. At that point - if every country can decide for itself whether it can afford burden-sharing - it would cease to be obligatory and become voluntary. Back to square one.
Any compulsory action implies the existence of an independent authority to enforce it. It would therefore be some EU Commissioner who decides which refugees go where and if such a Commissioner were to believe that Malta can take more refugees than, say, Cyprus, then we would have to respect that decision and welcome some of Cyprus's immigrants. You cannot expect burden-sharing to be obligatory for everyone except Malta. It's the usual but-we-are-special reasoning.
No, admit it, mandatory burden-sharing is a half-baked idea born of inexperience and immaturity.
Regarding WWII, Malta paid a microscopic price compared to Britain, France, the USSR, Poland and others; it's we who owe them not the other way round..
As far as what Europe owes us. I was born in 1961, you might be right, they probably owe me nothing. As far as my Grandparents and their future generations. For WW2 they owe us a lot. Maybe not Germany or Italy since we helped Europe defeat them.
It is silly to think that we are special and that what would be obligatory for others would not be likewise for us. How self-delusional to think that "Europe" owes us anything.
Dr. Gonzi and the PN. and its' supporters recognise long time ago that illegal immigration is of a great concern to Malta. Dr. Gonzi and the PN also recognise that there is no quick fix. Dr. Gonzi believe that it is through effective Diplomacy that this issue could be slowly solved and not through gunshot diplomace that Joseph Muscat and the MLP are preaching now. In regards to Joseph Muscat where has he been in the last four years on this issue at the EU. The only matter that I found that is contributed to Josep Muscat that relates to IMMIGRATION was his support in voting with his Socialist friends at the EU in favour to extend voting rights to IMMIGRANTS.
Both political parties have been succesful in reaching their objectives. This may sound to be great news for Malta yet it is in fact horrible news.
The Nationalist Party has convinced one and all that the Labour Party in not a reliable alternative government.
The Labour Party has convinced one and all that the Nationalist Party is an aweful self-serving government.
Result? Ruderless.
And in such vacum, as often happens in similar instances, the people have turned to the immigrant issue like there is no tomorrow.
This will be the issue that will dominate the upcoming EU elections. The possiblity is that both major parties wll lose out to any candidate who can strike the immigration cord.
It is time for both parties to focus on their attributes that makes them Government material.
Then he immediately appoints himself a referee for a game of football planned by none other than him and his party he belongs to.
Mr. Grixti chooses to quote The Times' report of the Prime Minister's speech to the UN and selects portions of it to kick off the football match he so advises us to avoid. Had he taken the trouble of asking for the whole text of the PM's speech, understand it and then comment about it, he would have been more credible.
Better still, why not wait until the resumption of Parliament with the fresh face of Joseph who, I am almost certain will raise the issue and enlighten us how he would have handled the thorny issue.
As usual, the MLP are very quick to criticize and lead the gullible to believe that whatever the NP government does, a Labour government can do better!
Is that why they have remained in opposition for eighteen of the last twenty years?
Even in a game of football a referee has to be credible.
Just peep a look at the Bruxelles HQ Building.....It houses MANY MANY Diplomats talking
over 20 different lanquages....it does take time before Dr. Gonzi's DIPLOMACY woiks.....
(sorry : works). A little boird (sorry : bird) is spreading the woird ( sorry : word)....that Little
Malta is spoiling mathematics.....insisting to persevere using a DOT for decimals & COMA
for thousands....very bad derelict Anglo-Saxon way !
Bet my last Penny (sorry : Euro Cent ) this problem will be solved before the problem of boat
people. Napoleon tried it , Hitler had a go......now Euroland has another dive at it.