Illegal immigration emergency fund welcomed

The government and opposition have welcomed the €20 million illegal immigration emergency fund announced by the EU Commission yesterday, but the Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika are insisting on a "burden sharing" arrangement.

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said the setting up of such a fund shows that the EU understood Malta's position.

The Labour Party's home affairs spokesman Gavin Gulia echoed the minister's sentiment, saying the announcement of the fund was definitively good news. However, he emphasised that this was only part of the solution.

"What Malta really needs is not money but burden sharing. The amount of money mentioned this time around is encouraging. The fact that it will be allocated before next summer is also positive, however, I expect the EU to work on a common burden sharing policy," Dr Gulia said.

Alternattiva secretary general Stephen Cachia expressed a similar opinion saying that the fund was very positive news but that it was not enough. On its part, he continued, AD is pushing - through the European Greens - to allow refugees to be able to go to Europe while their application for refugee status is being processed in Malta.

The Dublin agreement, he said, stipulates that an application for refugee status must be reviewed in the EU member state in which a given immigrant happens to land first. The European Greens are calling for a derogation, which would allow such refugees to move to other EU countries while their application is still being processed in Malta.

"We are aware that it's a long shot but if nobody tries it won't be considered," he said. "The decision to set up this fund certainly sets the right pace, however." Dr Frendo said the government would continue to push forward with its proposals on all fronts including resettlement. "It is not easy, however," he cautioned.

At the moment the government is in talks with a number of countries with regard to the resettlement of refugees - specifically immigrants whose application has been processed and were granted refugee status. "Ireland seems likely to follow in Holland's footsteps, however, even with Holland we are still in the process of making it happen, even though the country has already committed itself."

Asked whether the number of refugees being discussed in this context is similar to the 30 committed to by Holland, Dr Frendo simply said the numbers are never huge, adding that a few here and a few there could make a huge difference.

"Our problem isn't really with refugees since the numbers are not that big. Our problem when it comes to numbers is with illegal immigrants proper."