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Muscat asks PM not to sign Immigration pact
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 28, 2008 - 4:52:48 PM
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MLP party leader Dr Joseph Muscat has called on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to refrain from signing the EU Immigration Pact.
Speaking at a political activity on Sunday in Zebbug, Dr Muscat said that the Labour Party will not back the Prime Minister if he signs the agreement.
The Labour leader said that the pact does not tie in any EU member state. “It is up to EU members to decide whether or not to carry the immigration burden that our country is bearing”. Dr Muscat said that whoever wanted to help Malta could have done so in the past years and therefore there was no need of a pact.
The pact would be applied to recognised refugees, Dr Muscat said, which only make a small proportion of those arriving to Maltese shores.
In response to Dr Muscat, a DOI press release stated that the Immigration Pact is a crucial and enormous step which can aid EU member states to share the burden of illegal immigration.
“The MLP leader is taking a stand against the Pact but is not proposing any other alternative. He did not come forward with a concrete proposal”.
The government release said that the pact does not solely signify help for Malta but also puts in place a common policy which did not exist beforehand.
“The pact will apply to those persons who are given international protection, that is, the largest number of illegal immigrants who arrive in Malta. Those who do not deserve protection will be sent back to their country of origin also thanks to EU funds.”
Read also: Immigration Pact approved by EU ministers
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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Latest update:
Sep 29, 2008 - 9:12:11 AM CET
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