Addressing the plenary session of the
European Parliament in Strasbourg,
Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Simon
Busuttil welcomed a new law which will establish European Rapid Border Intervention
Team composed of border guards from EU countries and empowered them to help EU
countries that are facing emergency situations with illegal immigration.
The Chamber voted in favour of the law last
Thursday. Dr Busuttil called the new law as a “solidarity
instrument” pointing out that the law made it compulsory for EU Member States
to help fellow EU countries which face difficulties on immigration.
“This solidarity is compulsory, it is not
optional. This makes it real solidarity. Solidarity is not like charity, which is
voluntary; it is a binding commitment,” said the MEP.
Dr Busuttil said that thanks to this law,
countries facing emergency situations on immigration will now start to feel
that they are no longer completely on their own.
However, he cautioned that on their own,
the Rapid Intervention Teams would not be enough to overcome the challenge of
illegal immigration. “External border control is in the interest
of all Member States and not just the countries that
are facing difficulties. And once it is in everyone’s interest, it must also be
everyone’s responsibility, a shared responsibility,” he said.
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