EU Affairs
AD supports EP proposal on burden sharing
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 17, 2008 - 10:09:35 AM

Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party has issued a statement in support of a proposal made in the Budget committee of the European parliament by MEP Simon Busuttil to set up an EU-wide refugee resettlement programme.

The proposal would enable EU Member States to take immigrants from those Member States that are facing a disproportionate burden from immigration.

Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, stated: "Simon Busuttil's proposal makes a lot of sense and follows closely on the heels of Green MEP Jean Lambert's report which was approved two weeks ago in the European Parliament and which is asking for increased responsibilty sharing amongst the countries of the EU as well as for a revision of the Dublin regulations to allow asylum seekers to move from small countries like Malta to other EU countries whilst awaiting the result of their asylum application".

Stephen Cachia, Alternattiva Demokratika Spokesperson on Democracy and Civil Rights, stated:  "If the Busuttil proposal were adopted this would give the possibility to refugees granted political asylum or under the protection of the EU to relocate voluntarily from a small country like Malta to another larger country in the EU, something which is not yet possible at the moment".

"Alternattiva Demokratika has been working and lobbying in international fora for this possibilty of relocation for the past years", concluded Stephen Cachia.